modu

Modu is the name given to a modular smartphone concept developed by Modu Ltd, an Israeli technology company, in the late 2000s. The concept centered on a compact base phone that could be paired with removable modules, each adding a specific function such as additional storage, a camera, or enhanced audio, by attaching to the chassis and sharing the device's core systems.

The design aimed to let users customize a single device for different markets or use cases without buying a new phone. Modules could be swapped quickly, allowing users to upgrade capabilities or tailor the phone for travel, work, or entertainment. The base unit provided the essential phone features and display, while modules supplied accessory hardware and services.

Modu generated media attention and attracted investor and carrier interest, with demonstrations and plans for consumer release in the late 2000s. However, production and widespread adoption did not materialize, and Modu Ltd faced financial and manufacturing challenges. By the early 2010s the project had stalled, and the company reduced or ended operations related to the modu concept. Some elements of the idea influenced subsequent discussions of modular devices, although no widely adopted modu phone ever reached mass market.

Legacy: Modu is cited as an early example in the modular smartphone discourse, preceding later efforts such as Google's Project Ara and other modular concepts. The term remains associated with the idea of interchangeable modules that augment a base device rather than replacing it.