Highlights:
- Solana’s Seeker, launching in 2025, boasts enhanced hardware and software.
- The phone will feature better crypto wallet integration and an improved dapp store, drawing developer interest.
- Seeker aims to provide exclusive rewards and experiences, improving on the Saga’s success.
Solana Mobile, a subsidiary of Solana Labs, revealed its second crypto smartphone, “Solana Seeker,” at the TOKEN2049 conference in Singapore on September 19. It’s priced between $450 and $500 for pre-orders, which is half the cost of its predecessor, the Saga. The Seeker offers a range of exciting new features and aims to move beyond its reputation as just a “memecoin phone.”
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Launched in May last year, the Saga faced initial criticism for its technical limitations. However, the device unexpectedly surged in popularity in December after a 1,000% increase in the value of the memecoin Bonk (BONK), resulting in a complete sell-out by mid-December. Solana remembers that success and plans to offer comparable rewards for Seeker buyers. This much-anticipated second-generation web3 mobile device is scheduled for release in 2025.
At TOKEN2049, Emmett Hollyer, General Manager at Solana Labs, described the Seeker as a “rewards magnet.” He highlighted that, unlike its predecessor, it would not depend solely on memecoins for its appeal. “Seeker, just like Saga, will be a rewards magnet, but also, it’s a huge opportunity for teams to build totally new experiences,” Hollyer said.
Key Features of Solana’s Smartphone ‘Seeker’
The new device will have an enhanced decentralized app (DApp) store and upgraded hardware. Hollyer noted that the Seeker would support diverse use cases, including memecoins, DeFi, payments, and gaming.
As per Hollyer, the Seeker will include several hardware upgrades, making it more advanced than the Saga. The new phone will boast a brighter display, a more powerful battery, and an extra camera sensor for enhanced photography. Additionally, the Seeker’s lighter and more compact design aims to offer a more convenient experience for users who wish to use it as a secondary device.
On the software side, the Seeker enhances the crypto experience by integrating a custom-built crypto wallet with its secure Seed Vault. This upgrade enables users to manage their crypto assets more seamlessly than with the previous model, making the Seeker a more efficient tool for crypto transactions.
A notable feature of Seeker is its open dApp store, which will enable developers to launch and deploy new applications more easily, avoiding the restrictive policies of Apple and Google. Hollyer highlighted that the token launchpads, often hindered by the 30% fees of traditional app stores, would particularly benefit from the Seeker.
3/ Introducing Seed Vault Wallet, created for Seeker in partnership with @solflare_wallet!
This mobile-first wallet integrates with Seed Vault for seamless self-custody. Send transactions with a double tap and get a smoother, upgraded UX. pic.twitter.com/o0cOnRlBsy
— Seeker | Solana Mobile (@solanamobile) September 19, 2024
Solana Co-Founder and Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko said:
“We founded Solana Mobile with the mission of taking crypto mobile. To achieve that, we needed to make Seeker more accessible, more affordable, and for its hardware and software to be even more deeply integrated for web3.”
Seeker Users Might Get Around $303 Worth of Airdrops
As the Seeker seeks to shed the “memecoin phone” label, those anticipating substantial rewards might need to adjust their expectations. Solana’s mobile airdrop tracker, TwoLoot, indicates that the current value of tokens airdropped to Seeker users is approximately $303, notably less than the $1,350 in rewards given to Saga users.
Hollyer argued that although rewards are a key aspect of the Seeker’s sales pitch, the device is also designed to provide users with a wide range of new crypto-integrated experiences. The Seeker has already received over 140,000 pre-orders, attracting more developers and builders than its predecessor.
Solana’s native cryptocurrency SOL surged 7% in 24 hours after the announcement of Solana’s Seeker, pushing its price near $140.
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