As we reported on cryptokoin.com, Solana (SOL) has done something that no crypto has done before and announced that it will open a mobile phone. This bold move came as a shock to the crypto industry. Now everyone is wondering: Is Solana Labs planning to compete with tech giants like Samsung and Apple?
Will Solana compete with Samsung and Apple?
Until now, crypto innovation has been largely limited to software. Most crypto projects are focused on building different ways to use blockchain, as with DeFi or NFTs. The new phone, called Saga, will run on the Android platform when it launches in early 2023 and will truly bring a web3 experience to the mobile phone market. Solana Mobile Stack (SMS) is an Android-based developer’s toolkit for building web3 apps and software that comes with a decentralized app store. It also positions itself as an open source alternative to Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store.
Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko shared his thoughts on what he would like to see from Solana Mobile Stack. Yakovenko gave the following words in his statement;
What we really want to unlock is the ability for developers to build truly tightly integrated applications. The wallet could be tighter and integrated into things like tap-to-pay. Having a web3 app store is essential because the way digitally owned real items work is very different from the way you buy a movie on Amazon… Selling a lot of phones is a dream, but we don’t have to sell a lot of phones to be successful. There are many ways we can win. One of them is that we prove these business models are scalable. You can have web3 mobile experiences without the way the app store works fairly, which is still growing and economically viable today. App stores are such a pain in the butt for developers that if we have 50,000 dedicated web3 users active – with a web3 friendly app store – this is a better distribution channel for developers than the major app stores are today.
Solana will increase mobile phone adoption
When you buy a copy of a movie on your phone, you suddenly don’t own the license rights to that movie. You just get a digital copy of the movie. Whereas, when you purchase a Bored Ape NFT, the full ownership and license of that NFT becomes the seller. Currently, digital ownership on mobile phones is limited to purchasing in-app products from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, both of which sell large volumes from publishers in the form of fees, and both have full control over the apps on their platforms. But a web3 priority system like SMS can take the story away from Apple and Google ownership. It could also shift towards the kind of self-ownership that crypto enthusiasts love.
Real world use cases for NFTs continue to grow. Therefore, the Solana phone will be an eye-opener for Solana adoption in the crypto ecosystem. Jack Lu, the founder of Magic Eden, said in an interview:
We are particularly excited about the release of the Solana phone due to its potential to further integrate NFTs into our daily lives in both the digital and real life realms. The more integrated NFTs become, the wider their use cases will be. This in turn will support the broader growth of the NFT ecosystem.
NFTs could expand
Currently, NFTs are primarily limited to profile pictures. However, NFT believers continue to think their use cases could expand much further. For example, real estate or music ownership will begin to be transferred as NFTs. Caseem Ward, an adviser to crypto media firm Light Node, expressed optimism about both the future of the phone and its impact on the Solana cryptocurrency’s price. Ward said in a statement:
Solana Mobile Stack has a chance to be web3’s iOS or android. Most of the world uses mobile devices. Integrating native web3 will streamline the experience and accelerate our arrival to widespread mass adoption. Solana’s commitment to full throttle through this market downturn will translate into billions in added value to Solana’s market value with a focus on the mobile Web3 experience.
But not everyone is optimistic about the possibility of a solana phone. Grit Trakulhoon, investor of Andreeson-Horowtiz-backed investment platform Titan Invest, talked about the potential success of the phone. Trakulhoon said:
There are two main efforts: software and hardware. Software-Solana Mobile Stack (SMS): A toolkit that enables developers to build web3 mobile applications. Hardware – Solana Saga: A new android mobile with full integration with SMS. From a software perspective – platform/software developer kit (SDK) – it seems logical. However, the hardware (phone) is different and the barrier to entry is huge. So it is unclear whether they will be successful.
Can a crypto mobile device compete with Apple and Google?
Currently, the smartphone market is dominated by Apple and Samsung, which account for more than 50 percent of the market share. Matt Batsinelas, one of Triblock’s partners, shared Trakulhoon’s sentiments. Batsinelas said:
While I’m bullish on the Solana blockchain and other projects Solana incubates, I don’t see a viable way for a crypto-native mobile device to compete with Apple and Google. The SDK can be a powerful gateway for developers to reach mobile users, but building a mobile is not Solana’s core competency. There are probably better ways for Solana Labs to promote mobile development.
