In brief
- Solana Labs has announced an Android-based software kit for developing Web3 mobile apps.
- The company will also release its own smartphone called Saga, which will be released in 2023.
Solana Labs’ next big bet for web3† Mobile apps and a matching smartphone.
Today in New York City, Solana Labs, which are the founders and main contributors of the Solana . represents blockchain network – announced the launch of the Solana Mobile Stack software ecosystem for Android, along with an upcoming Android smartphone called Saga.
Solana Mobile Stack (SMS) is an open-source software kit designed to enable the development of native Android apps built around the Solana blockchain. The kit includes the Mobile Wallet Adapter, a protocol for connecting mobile Solana purses† According to the company, this feature works on all mobile devices, not just Android devices.
Another new feature called Seed Vault is a software safekeeping solution that keeps private keys and seed phrases (essentially the passwords that unlock cryptocurrency) and other sensitive information safe on an Android device. Finally, SMS includes Solana Pay for Android, which allows mobile payments through the platform.
Solana Labs is also launching a new Solana dapp Store designed for mobile devices, with easy access to web3 applications and wallets built on Solana at no cost. The SMS Developer Kit is available for download today.
According to the company, the Solana Mobile Stack will enable new functionality such as the creation (creation and distribution) of NFT assets from everywhere, easier mobile transactions on Solana, wider access to Solana’s DeFi protocols and more ways to play Solana-based Web3 video games.
To facilitate the distribution of Solana applications on mobile devices, Solana Labs will release its own Android smartphone called Saga. The device, which will feature top flagship-level specs including a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 6.67-inch OLED display, 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, will be released in early 2023.
Saga will have a hardware module with a “secure element” to enhance the Seed Vault function and protect users’ personal information from exploits and attacks.
The phone is expected to have a retail price of around $1,000. Solana Labs takes $100 deposits and prioritizes Solana developers on the list. Early buyers will receive a limited-edition NFT marking the phone’s launch, which a press release also describes as a “first ticket to influence the direction of the SMS platform”.
As part of the launch of the Solana Mobile Stack, the Solana Foundation will establish a $10 million developer ecosystem fund to provide grants to mobile makers.
“Developers can now bring the power of Solana to the computers in our pockets, not just ours” backpacks,” said Solana co-founder Raj Gokal in a press release. “Solana can revolutionize so much of what we do every day, but we need to open up the possibilities for decentralized apps on our mobile devices to realize this potential.”
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