Solana Introduces Web3 Mobile Phone Saga

Solana Labs subsidiary Solana Mobile has announced the launch of the mobile phone “Saga” set for launch in 2023.

The flagship Android mobile phone is a modified OSOM handset which consists of speciality crypto wallet functions and the “Solana Mobile Stack (SMS)” software development kit for Web3 programs.

Solana said that the $1000 mobile phone has “unique functionality and features tightly integrated with the Solana blockchain, making it easy and secure to transact in web3 and manage digital assets, such as tokens and NFTs.”

Saga designer OSOM is a leading Android development company. The company has built computing hardware for Google, Apple, and Intel, among others.

Saga was introduced at an event in New York. The event also introduced Solana Mobile Stack, a framework for Android allowing developers to create rich mobile experiences for wallets and apps on Solana and create a “Secure Element” for private key management.

“The Solana Mobile Stack SDK is available to developers now, and Saga is available for pre-order starting today, with delivery in early 2023,” Solana said in an announcement.

Solana’s biggest mobile-focused bet will feature a Web3 dapp (decentralized app) store, integrated “Solana Pay” to facilitate QR code-based on-chain payments, a mobile wallet adapter and a “seed vault” that will store private keys deep within the recesses of the phone.

“Saga starts from first principles to create a mobile experience for individuals, developers, and ecosystem participants that opens a new era of mobility,” said Jason Keats, co-founder and CEO of OSOM. “The world needs novel hardware to embrace the future that is web3, and building out an ecosystem that looks to the future without being burdened by past legacy ecosystems is hugely exciting for us.”

According to Solana, Saga’s specifications include a 6.67” OLED display, 12 GB RAM, 512 GB storage, and the latest flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform, the security features of which will enable the Solana Mobile Stack’s Seed Vault.

“With the addition of a Secure Element built into the device, the Seed Vault keeps private keys, seed phrases and secrets separated from the application layer yet still capable of interacting with apps running on the device or in a mobile browser,” Solana said.

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