Development issues have forced Google to delay the launch of its modular smartphone project dubbed as Project Ara.

Originally, the device was supposed to be unveiled in Puerto Rico this year. However, the company decided to postpone its launch to 2016 instead, according to Android Police.

In addition, it seems Google will no longer hold the tests for Project Ara in Puerto Rico. Based on a series of tweets made by those behind the initiative, the prototype of the device will be tested in the U.S.

"Where are we headed next? We are looking at a few locations in the U.S.," the Project Ara team posted.

As for the reason behind the delay, CNET noted that the developers of the modular device have encountered problems with the next version of the prototype. Details are still unclear but it seems the team is still stuck in the testing phases.

Google's Project Ara has been in development for some time now. When news about the initiative first emerged, it gained a lot of attention from the tech industry and consumer electronics market.

As explained by Google before, the project aims to revolutionize how people buy and use smartphones. Through a completely customizable unit, users will be able to easily swap out and upgrade hardware and software components depending on their needs.

The Project Ara prototype is composed of a simple smartphone frame. Its processor, camera, display panel and other components are housed in separate modules. These modules snap onto the frame to form a fully functioning smartphone, The Verge reported.

For example, if the processor of the Project Ara device is already outdated or is not performing efficiently, the users can simply take out its module and get a new one. For Google, the concept of the device takes away the impracticality of purchasing a completely new smartphone just because a component of the previous unit is damaged or outdated.

Hopefully, the development of Project Ara will progress despite the technical issues encountered by its developers.