Customized hardware selection for a mobile phone

A handheld-device platform comprising:

• a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a human user and including a plurality of hardware module receivers;
• the plurality of hardware module receivers each configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from at least two interchangeable hardware modules, at least two hardware module receivers of the plurality of hardware module receivers each have a different size value;
• and
• processing electronics configured to communicate with each respective interchangeable hardware module removably received and electrically coupled with a hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers.

An interchangeable hardware module for a mobile communication device, the hardware module comprising:

• a housing configured to be grasped by a human user, and configured to removably engage and electrically couple with a hardware module receiver of a mobile device;
• an electrical circuit having a selected functionality;
• and
• electronics configured to communicatively couple with a processing electronics of the mobile communication device,
• wherein the mobile device, the electrical circuit, and the electronics of the hardware module all comply with a hardware module interchangeability standard.

A mobile phone, comprising:

• a shell having a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a user, and including:
• at least two first receiver portions each configured to removably couple with a respective first interchangeable hardware module having a first size value, each respective first interchangeable hardware module selectable from at least two first interchangeable hardware modules having the first size value and having different functions;
• and
• at least two second receiver portions each configured to removably couple with a respective second interchangeable hardware module having a second size value, each respective second interchangeable hardware module selectable from at least two second interchangeable hardware modules having the second size value and having different functions;
• and
• processing electronics including a processor and a memory configured to communicate with each first interchangeable hardware module respectively removably coupled with the at least two first receiver portions and with each second interchangeable hardware module respectively removably coupled with the at least two second receiver portions.