In this article, we will look at Solana Labs’ launch of a mobile software platform and its recent announcement of a new Android smartphone.
Solana Labs launches a mobile software platform
Solana Labs recently announced that they will release a flagship smartphone, the Solana Saga, featuring decentralized mobile payments backed by self-custody wallets. To accompany the launch of the new Saga, the company will also release a framework for Android developers known as Solana Mobile Stack.
This framework will help developers build rich mobile experiences with secure elements. It will also be available in the form of an SDK for Android developers.
The company has been betting big on the future of mobile and Web3 with the launch of the Solana Mobile Stack, a development kit for developing mobile apps on Android. The new software is intended to simplify the creation of Decentralized Applications (DApps) and provide a great user experience. The new Saga smartphone is set to ship in early 2023. Solana Labs also announced a new decentralized app store.
A high-end Android phone
The Solana Mobile Stack is an open-source software kit that enables developers to develop native Android apps for Solana. The Mobile Wallet Adapter is a separate application that connects Solana mobile wallets to Android devices. The Stack will work on any mobile device.
That means if you have a Samsung or an iPhone, you can use the Solana mobile wallet to pay for your items.
The Solana Mobile brand is a subsidiary of Solana Labs, and it has announced that it will release a flagship Android phone called the Solana Saga. The Solana Saga features a 6.67-inch OLED display, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. The phone will sell for $1000. Solana will integrate its blockchain with its products, making them secure to transact on.
Saga
Solana Labs has announced the Saga, an upcoming Android smartphone available in 2023. The new Saga smartphone will be powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 512GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM. It will also include a decentralized system for developers and a mobile wallet adapter.
The device, which will have top-tier features such as a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 6.67″ OLED display, 12GB RAM, and 512GB storage, is expected to be released in early 2023.
Saga will also include a “secure element” hardware module to assist in enabling the Seed Vault feature and protecting users’ private information from exploits and attacks.
Solana Labs is accepting $100 deposits and will put Solana developers first on the list. Early adopters will receive a limited-edition NFT to commemorate the phone’s launch, as well as a “first ticket to influencing the direction of the SMS platform,” according to a press release.
The Solana Labs team has been working on the hardware and SMS push for the past five months. Previously, the team has been working on hardware and software for the Android platform.
Final thoughts
A Web3 mobile phone with integrated NFT features could be a game-changer for Solana and provide a boost to the crypto market overall. Ideas like blockchain, proof of stake and the overall volatility of crypto projects in general are confusing and off putting to the wider public.
Yet, give them a smart phone with decentralized apps, mobile payments and NFT functionality and that is something that could act as a gateway towards widespread Web3 adoption.
What about you? Would you buy a Web3 smart phone from Solana? Leave us a comment below!
Jay Speakman is a technology writer based in San Francisco, California. He writes on the topics of blockchain, cryptocurrency, DeFi and other disruptive technologies. Clients include Avalanche, Be[in]Crypto, Trust Machines and several blogs devoted to blockchain gaming. He will not rest until fiat currency is defeated.
