Google has announced the first destination for Project Ara will be Puerto Rico, coming later this year to the Caribbean island. The modular smartphone will be delivered to customers in converted food trucks, allowing them to try-before-you-buy and replace designs and modules to find the perfect balance.

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There will be over 20 modules available at launch, but for now Google is going offline with Project Ara, and will not open up a store to customize and view descriptions of the modules.

Puerto Rico is an unlikely place to kick off one of the largest mobile inventions, but it gives Google ground to test the modular smartphone, without having millions flocking to check out the project. Google will only offer Android OS at the start, but it may be possible for users to choose operating systems once Project Ara launches worldwide, like Firefox, WebOS, TIzen and other third party platforms.

Project Ara started when Phonebloks creator Dave Hakkens launched a ThunderClap to raise awareness for a modular smartphone, capable of changing modules when one breaks, instead of the whole device. Hakkens claimed a modular device would reduce electronic waste and allow customers to pay less for a sustainable smartphone. Motorola picked up the project a few months afterwards-but when Motorola was sold to Lenovo-Project Ara stayed in Google's HQ.

It is still unknown how many mainstream providers will work Google on Project Ara, companies like Qualcomm, Samsung and LG might not see any real reason to split the smartphone into modules, potentially losing thousands in profits.

This would bring a sort-of PC hardware scene to mobile, allowing module creators to battle it on specs, design and performance, but it may take a few years for this to become a reality.

TagsProject Ara, modular smartphone