Solana’s cryptocurrency and Web3 smartphone, Saga, crafted by OSOM, will be available for purchase on May 8, 2023. The Android smartphone is designed specifically for Web3 applications and enables users to self-custody crypto assets using its Seed Vault feature.
Saga Smartphone: A New Era in Crypto and Web3
As reported by Decrypt, Solana Labs, Inc., the company behind the Solana blockchain ecosystem, announced that the Saga smartphone will be available for purchase on May 8, with pre-orders shipping on April 20. The smartphone comes with several pre-installed decentralized applications (dapps) and runs on the Android 13 operating system.
Seed Vault: Enhanced Security for Digital Assets
The phone includes a Seed Vault for securely storing crypto assets and offers 512 GB of storage. Its 6.67-inch OLED display pairs with a fingerprint scanner for extra security. The Seed Vault ensures the protection of private keys through secure hardware and AES encryption, according to the device’s specifications.
Solana Dapp Store: Expanding the Web3 Ecosystem
Powered by the “Solana Mobile Stack,” the $1,000 Web3 smartphone also boasts a Solana Dapp Store that currently hosts 16 dapps covering NFTs, DAOs, staking, and more. Solana’s Saga is not the first crypto-centric phone; past examples include HTC’s Exodus, Samsung Galaxy S10’s crypto-integrated native apps, and Siren Labs’ $999 Finney blockchain smartphone.
OSOM’s Role and the Future of Web3 Smartphones
The Cupertino-based privacy-first tech company OSOM crafted the Solana Saga phone. Founded by ex-Essential employee Jason Keats, OSOM recently closed a Series A funding round partnering with Solana Mobile, raising $25 million on September 9, 2022, according to Pitchbook data. Solana Labs’ bet on mobile is an attempt to cultivate a decentralized mobile ecosystem that isn’t reliant on big tech juggernauts like Apple and Google.
