Modu is a tiny modular phone that can be slipped into different device “jackets”— like an MP3 player, GPS, bigger cell phone, car stereo, or digital camera. Modu will launch in Q2, 2009 with mobile carriers in Israel, Southeast Asia and later in Latin America, Russia and other countries. There are no plans for a U.S. launch at this point.

The company was founded by CEO Dov Moran whose previous company, M-Systems, pioneered the concept of the USB flash drive and sold to SanDisk for $1.6 billion in 2006.

Think of Modu as an expanded SIM card. About the size of an iPod Nano, it can place calls, send text messages, and hold contacts. Modu can be inserted into different device jackets, depending on the functionality needed. The camera jacket, for instance, can be paired with Modu to send pictures over the wireless network.

Modu will initially support just GPRS, no WiFi. The jacket devices are expected to cost less than comparable gadgets with telephony functionality, with the plan to create an accessory mini-economy around the Modu, so that any device manufacturer could create whatever jackets they like. Modu is a platform, and other companies can build devices around it.

Milestones
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Modu received $7M in Unattributed funding. (1/09)

Posted 1/26/09 at 3:40pm
Modu received $58M in Series B funding. (3/24/08)

Posted 8/29/08 at 2:22pm
Modu received $20M in Series A funding. (6/07)

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm
Modu added Ronit Maor as VP Corporate Development.

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm
Modu added Lior Storfer as VP Research and Development.

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm
Modu added Liat Arad as COO.

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm
Modu added Jacob Shama as VP Value Added Products.

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm
Modu added Zack Weisfeld as VP Marketing.

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm
Modu added Itay Sherman as CTO.

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm
Modu added Dov Moran as CEO.

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm
Modu added Sariel Engel as VP Business Development.

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm
Modu added Udi Weinstein as CIO.

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm
Modu added Karl Pfister as General Manager Europe.

Posted 3/12/08 at 6:59pm