Microsoft has apparently patented a modular Windows Phone device with interchangeable parts. The landscape slider phone will apparently boast the option to swap out the QWERTY keyboard for a gaming pad, battery or… well, anything else Microsoft can think of.
The patent is totally preliminary at the moment and Microsoft doesn’t seem to have anything particularly specific in mind. However, the potential for a device with a sliding bay in which a variety of components can be inserted has obvious potential.
The approach has definite advantages over something like the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, a phone with a slider gamepad. While a gamepad would certainly appeal to many people, most have not been keen enough on the idea to ignore the extra thickness added to the device in order to improve the gaming experience. A modular device would have the advantage of a gamepad, but would also allow for more day-to-day functionality with extra battery life or a keyboard.
As with most devices that take a new approach to traditional smartphone designs we doubt this modular Windows Phone (should it ever see the light of day) would sell particularly well. However, we love the concept of swappable phone parts and would definitely like to see other phone developers start investigating this concept.
Whatever happens it'll definitely be a while until we see any kind results from this patent, as Microsoft apparently hasn't even started designing a device yet. So in the meantime we'll probably just sit around thinking of all the possible applications for a handset like this. Can any of you think of some?
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