modu's Modular Cell Phone: Some Assembly Required

How would you like a cell phone that has a business-like QWERTY keyboard when you want it to, or a 12-key at other times, or can even be slipped into some future Kindle-type device as its cellular guts? That's the basic premise behind Israeli startup modu's new modular cell phone.

The modu itself it pictured above. It's a tiny phone, as you can tell with it pictured next to a credit card. You can slip the modu into what are known as modu jackets ("stylishly designed phone enclosures") as well as modu mates (electronic devices you can slip the modu into, such as the example I gave above).

You can see the modu in a jacket to the left.

modu calls this combination of the modu, mates and jackets an ecosystem. Some of the modu mates already planned include media players, digital picture frames, cameras, and digitally enhanced cordless telephones.

Carriers lined up include Telecom Italia’s mobile division TIM, BeeLine (VimpelCom) of Russia and Cellcom in Israel for a Q4 2008 launch. No U.S. carriers, though, and GPRS - not HSDPA, but they are already working on an updated model with HSDPA.

It has several partners already signed up, including, as listed in their press release, Sandisk, Texas Instruments, Universal Music Group, and more.

In the press release, Dov Moran, modu’s CEO and founder, said:

"The mobile phone industry is ready for a revamp.

There are hundreds of handset models on the market: the trouble is that as a consumer you can only have one at a time and you are usually tied to a long and expensive contract. modu is challenging that with a solution that offers freedom, boundless possibilities and the opportunity to change your phone without it costing a fortune."

It's cool and it could change the cellular phone game. This is the type of design that Motorola, which has had trouble coming up with a Razr successor, needs to develop.

If only they had a U.S. carrier lined up! modu will display its wares at the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona next week.

Watch the teaser trailer: