Solana Labs, the San Francisco-based crypto company behind the Solana ecosystem, announced a Web3 cell phone on 2023. With 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, native applications will be able to run on the Solana blockchain and be integrated directly into the phone.
The Android phone Solana Saga can currently be pre-ordered from Solana Mobile, a subsidiary of Solana Labs, and will probably be available in early 2023. It is still unclear how a Web3 smartphone will differ from its forerunners. It is supposed to have new security features and be able to run Web3 apps that previously only ran on desktops.
"We chose the name Saga because the cryptocurrency story is still being written. This is the next chapter in that story, and we believe opening crypto to mobile devices will lead to greater adoption, understanding, and opportunity." - Raj Gokal, Co-Founder of Solana
Introducing a new era of mobility
Solana Saga is expected to be an Android flagship with unique features and functions tightly integrated with the Solana blockchain. The cell phone is expected to enable easy and secure transaction processing on the web3 and management of digital assets such as tokens and NFTs. The Saga will cost $1,000, have a 6.67-inch OLED display, and feature 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Pre-orders for Saga require a fully refundable $100 deposit, which will be applied to the expected final price of $1,000.
With an additional "secure element" built into the device, the Seed Vault keeps private keys, seed phrases and other secrets separate from the application layer. However, it is still capable of interacting with apps running on the device or in a mobile browser. The first devices will be given priority to developers to test the Solana Mobile Stack and the Saga together. Those who pre-order the phone will also receive a Saga Passport: an NFT that accompanies the first wave of Saga devices and can influence the direction of the platform with voting rights.
Solana Framework for Android
The Saga was unveiled at an event in New York, where the Solana Mobile Stack was also introduced. The framework for Android enables developers to create rich mobile experiences for wallets and apps on Solana while creating a Secure Element for private key management. The Solana Mobile Stack SDK is available to developers now.
"Every day I hear stories of people leaving dinners, conferences and vacations to return to their computers and sign important transactions" - Anatoly Yakovenko, Solana co-founder
In a blog post, Yakovenko wrote that mints, trades, listings and transfers, which are critical to the daily lives of crypto enthusiasts, take us out of our lives to do the activity on our computers. The only companies with the resources to make a self-managed mobile future a reality are Apple and Google, which to date have not revealed any information about their crypto roadmaps. It's time, he said, for Web3 developers themselves to start building toward mobile.
