New Solana Labs Project – Web3 Mobile Phone

Solana Labs is working on a new android device, which will function as the first mobile phone for the Solana network. 

Crypto Phone Coming In 2023

On June 23, in New York City, Solana announced the launch of its Saga mobile phone, which is being developed in collaboration with Osom. The phone is a modified version of the Osom OV1, a device developed by a team of former engineers from Essential. The company has already started booking preorders for the device, which is listed at $1,000. To preorder the phone, customers have to make a compulsory $100 deposit on solanamobile.com, through their Solana wallets. Shipping for the device will commence in the first quarter of 2023. 

Specs Sheet

The hardware specifications on the phone are pretty standard – it has a 6.67-inch 120Hz OLED display, with 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. It will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor. Plus, like every run-of-the-mill smart phone, it is equipped with both a primary camera (50mp) and a ultra-wide shooter (12mp). However, the main USP of the phone that has got the crypto community and gadget nerds equally excited is its crypto-functionality. 

Saga’s Crypto Functionality

Users who are frequently dealing with the Web3, accessing their crypto wallets and their NFT collections will especially benefit from this phone, which has a built-in support for decentralized apps running on the Solana blockchain. The launch of this phone is expected to give the Solana blockchain the boost it needs to overtake the Ethereum network in NFT sales volume. The possibility seems high, since NFT marketplace Magic Eden, Solana wallet maker Phantom, and crypto exchange Orca have already pledged their support for the Saga phone.  

Prior Attempts To Develop Crypto Phone

The crypto phone in question was initially being developed by OSOM, the privacy-focused company that evolved from the ashes of Essential. However, the company has partnered with Solana Labs to rebrand the device as Saga and develop it together in collaboration. 

According to OSOM CEO, Jason Keats, 

“Osom is incredibly excited to partner with Solana in building the Saga. The world needs novel hardware companies to support the future that is Web3. Building out an ecosystem that looks to the future without being burdened by past legacy ecosystems is hugely exciting.”

This is not the first time that a tech company has attempted something of this scale. Samsung, LG, and HTC have all tried to develop their version of a blockchain phone in the past, without much luck. 

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.