Solana is launching a Web3 smartphone - Saga

The co-founder and CEO of Solana, Anatoly Yakovenko, revealed the launch of an Android Web3-focused smartphone - Saga at an event in New York City. 

Saga is a flagship Android phone with unique functionalities and features that are integrated with the Solana Blockchain to streamline transaction processes in Web3, crypto and NFT management and make them safe and secure.

The phone comes with 512 GB of storage, a 6.67-inch OLED display, and will be available for purchase during Q1 of 2023 with a priority of developers.

The phone will offer a few Web3 features, including a decentralized application (Dapp) store, where users can download decentralized trading exchanges and NFT marketplaces. The ultimate goal is to allow the Solana community to participate in the governance of the store’s catalogue. It will also integrate with ‘Solana Pay’ to support QR code-based on-chain payments. A mobile wallet adapter and a hardware encoded ‘seed vault’ that can be used to store private keys directly in the phone.

In addition to Saga,Yakovenko announced the launch of Solana Mobile Stack (SMS), which is an Android framework that enables developers to create Web3 mobile experiences for Solana apps and wallets. It also introduces a ‘secure element’ for private key management. The Solana Mobile Stack SDK is available to developers now and Saga is available for pre-orders starting today, with delivery in early 2023. The ultimate cost of Saga is expected to be US$ 1,000, out of which the US$ 100 deposit required will be fully refundable, and will be prioritized for developers for the purposes of testing the Solana Mobile Stack and Saga.

SMS will consist of a number of products including a seed vault, a custody solution, a mobile wallet adapter, Solana Pay for Android and its decentralized application (dApp) store. It ‘provides a new set of libraries for wallets and apps, allowing developers to create rich mobile experiences on Solana,’ a press release said.

Solana is reputed to be the fastest blockchain in the global market. It can process 65,000 transactions per second and has low transaction fees. Yakovenko said, ‘Almost 7 billion people use smartphones around the world and more than 100 million people hold digital assets. Saga sets a new standard for the Web3 experience on mobile.’

‘We chose the Saga name because the story of crypto is still being written. This is the next chapter of this narrative and we believe opening up crypto to mobile will lead to greater adoption, better understanding, and more opportunities.’ Gokal added. 

Saga is designed and manufactured by OSOM, a leading Android development company whose team has extensive experience building computing hardware for Google, Apple, and Intel, among others.

Finally, The Solana Foundation will be launching a US$ 10 million fund to ‘help kickstart a new mobile ecosystem’ and ‘encourage growth of mobile dApps.’ 

Photo: Solana mobile