Solana Labs Unveils Saga, A Web3-Powered Smartphone

Solana’s (SOL) parent company, Solana Labs has announced plans to launch an Android smartphone for the network. Solana Labs further revealed that the Web3-focused device would be ready early next year.

Solana Announces Saga Mobile Phone

The team at Solana Labs is envisioning a competitive entry into the telecom space with the unveiling of Saga. The smartphone announcement was accompanied by another unveiling of the Solana Stack Android software.

According to Anatoly Yakovenko, CEO of Solana Labs, Saga is built around the Web3 features.  This phone will offer users access to decentralized applications (dApps), a mobile store for downloading dApps products as well as an NFT marketplace.

However, the CEO noted that this store will come with zero fees. The goal of Solana Labs is to avail the community of the opportunity to participate in the network’s governance.

Furthermore, the Solana Mobile Stack (SMS) is a critical tool in the development and design of Android applications on the network. 

Yakovenko noted that developers were previously restricted from creating fully decentralized applications for mobile phones. This is due to the gatekeeper model in place that no longer works. The coming of the SMS signals a new path for Solana. A secure and easy-to-navigate function perfect for Web3.

The CEO laments that crypto users are still using desktop and worn-out devices to access activities on the Solana network. The new Saga phone is the answer to these problems. The era of using backpacks to move around with devices will soon be over once Saga is launched to the public.

Commenting on Solana’s latest move, Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX founder noted that the web is going mobile more than ever before. Everything is done with the tap of a finger but crypto mobile is way behind others. 

Bankman-Fried added that Solana is leading the way for others to follow and the crypto industry will catch up in no time.

Meanwhile, Solana also revealed that it will be Collaborating with other firms in the NFT, Metaverse, and DeFi space to further scale its smartphone ecosystem.

Features of the Saga Phone

The Web3-enabled device comes with 512 GB storage space with 12 GB RAM. It also sports a 6.6-inch screen display. A decentralized system for developers to create and distribute their mobile dApps is also included in the Saga phone. 

There is a Seed Vault for users to safeguard their private lets using hardware encoded drivers. In addition to this, the team includes a mobile wallet adapter to ensure secured assets for users.

The Saga Pass is a non-fungible token (NFT) that will come with the first batch of Saga devices. This will serve as the ticket for further participation in community governance in the Solana Blockchain network.

According to reports, the phone is developed in partnership with Osom, the smartphone manufacturer. The phone maker revealed that Saga is the upgrades version of the phone the two parties began working on in 2020.

Solana Labs will further provide $10 million in funding to expand its crypto mobile ecosystem and promote the growth of dApps for mobile.