Google's Project Ara has been in development for over a year and we'll finally see the first consumer-side of the modular smartphone at MWC in Barcelona on March 1.

The search giant is bringing over 50 modules to the event along with two running prototypes built by Toshiba and Einfochips.

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Modules coming to the event including cameras, heart-rate sensors, batteries and other normal sensors for a smartphone. There will also be some of the more wacky ideas Google has been creating to fit on Project Ara.

Spiral One and Spiral Two, the two modular smartphone models, will both be available to check out at MWC. But Google hasn't been clear on what will be available to see and what will be behind closed doors.

Project Ara is set to launch in Puerto Rico for a test trial, Google has hired delivery trucks to move around the island sharing the modular design and selling the smartphone parts.

In the near future, Google hopes to operate through an online store where users can buy different parts and recycle old parts for cash. This new concept could bring down the cost of smartphones entirely, and open up the field to less well known manufacturers.

Some providers like Qualcomm and Intel haven't shown much interest in Project Ara, potentially due to a drop in revenue if it has to compete with multiple providers on a consumer level.

Modular smartphones are a definite positive however. They have the potential to be as disruptive as the PC revolution when people stopped buying from providers like Dell or HP and instead built their own computers to fit their needs.

Google's goal of offering Project Ara to six billion people might be farfetched. But if enough customers want the smartphone, it could be huge in places around the world where budget smartphones are still popular.

TagsProject Ara, MWC, modular smartphone