Modu

About Modu

Modu was an Israeli telecommunications company established in 2007 by Dov Moran, an accomplished inventor and entrepreneur renowned for co-founding M-Systems and inventing the USB flash drive. Moran's journey into modular technology was influenced by a desire to create more versatile and sustainable mobile devices. Prior to Modu, he led M-Systems to a $1.6 billion acquisition by SanDisk in 2006, a success built on pioneering flash memory products like the DiskOnKey and DiskOnChip.

The company's core offering was the Modu phone, a remarkably lightweight mobile device, which earned a Guinness World Record. This tiny core unit could be inserted into various external shells, known as "modu jackets." This concept allowed users to transform the device's functionality and appearance, with jackets providing features like enhanced keyboards, cameras, music players, or sporty designs. The business model was centered on selling the core modu phone and a variety of these interchangeable jackets, targeting consumers who valued customization and portability. The company also formed partnerships with consumer electronics manufacturers like Blaupunkt and mobile operators such as Telecom Italia to expand its ecosystem.

The first device, the Modu 1, launched in Israel in 2009 and later in other markets, including the UK. A touchscreen successor, the Modu T, was also developed. Despite its forward-thinking concept and securing significant funding, Modu faced challenges in gaining widespread market traction and ultimately ceased operations in early 2011. In May 2011, Google acquired several of Modu's patents for $4.9 million. These patents became foundational for Google's own modular smartphone initiative, Project Ara, which was later developed by its then-subsidiary, Motorola Mobility.