Mobile Phone-too small

An Israeli startup has persuaded wireless carriers in three countries to try a new concept: a miniature cell phone that pops into interchangeable "jackets" to become a bigger, smarter phone — or into other gadgets to connect them to the Internet. The Modu is somewhat smaller than the current iPod Nano and weighs 1.5 ounces. It has a small color screen and a restricted keypad, which allows it to work as an elementary cell phone on its own. The jackets that will come with the Modu look like cell phones, with standard numeric keypads and other features like cameras. But they lack they lack the antenna and chips that communicate with a wireless network, and this is where the Modu comes in — it pops into a slot, turning the jacket into a fully functional phone. The jacket is cheap to make, has almost no electronics, and doesn't need to be tested by the carrier to see that it conforms to its network standards.

The jackets that will be available at launch in the other countries reflect the differences between them. The Russian carrier wants an emphasis on kids, who are the big growth market for cell phones there, so Modu is making jackets with cartoon themes for them. The Israeli carrier wanted a cell phone for soldiers, so Modu is making a rugged, green jacket with a built-in flashlight. Other jackets could focus on music, coming with pre-loaded tunes.

A shortcoming of the initial model is that it will use General Packet Radio Service, or GPRS, for data transfer. It's a widely deployed but slow technology, roughly equivalent to dial-up in speed. That will limit the Modu's utility, but the company is working on upgrading it to use High-Speed Download Packet Access, a "third-generation" technology used by AT&T Inc., among others.

The idea is to have consumer electronics companies build slots for the Modu into their devices to give them network connectivity. That could allow a GPS device to receive updates on traffic or map changes. A picture frame with a Modu slot and loud speakers could act as a music-playing, picture-showing charging station.