Solana News Today: Solana Mobile Ships Second-Gen Seeker Phone to 50+ Countries

Solana Mobile has begun shipping the second generation of its mobile device, the Seeker, to customers in over 50 countries. This marks a significant step forward for the company following the limited success of its first-generation device, the Saga, which sold 20,000 units but initially struggled until memecoins made ownership profitable [1]. The Seeker, which has already amassed more than 150,000 pre-orders, includes hardware improvements and introduces onchain features aimed at enhancing security and functionality for crypto users [1].

A key innovation in the Seeker is its mobile-native crypto wallet and a decentralized app store designed to circumvent the “cryptophobic censorship” often found in traditional app stores. The phone also features a Seed Vault, a hardware-level security component that separates private keys and seed phrases from the application layer, allowing users to interact with apps securely [1]. This functionality is particularly appealing to crypto enthusiasts and developers, who can benefit from an alternative app marketplace that avoids the high fees imposed by Apple and Google app stores [1].

Solana Mobile is pricing the Seeker at $450 and $500, and the device is expected to generate at least $67.5 million in gross revenue for the company [1]. The phone is part of a broader effort by Solana Labs to decentralize mobile computing through a proprietary three-layer architecture called TEEPIN, or the “Trusted Execution Environment Platform Infrastructure Network.” TEEPIN aims to decentralize key aspects of the device, from access to app distribution, by linking hardware, verified software, users, and network Guardians [1]. According to Emmett Hollyer, Solana Mobile’s general manager, the architecture enhances security through cryptographic attestation, enabling the device to prove it is running legitimate software [1].

The launch of the Seeker comes amid shifting regulations and policies in the tech industry. Apple, for instance, recently faced antitrust scrutiny over its app-store policies, particularly regarding the ability of developers to communicate with users and avoid commissions on off-app purchases. A recent court ruling, involving a case between Epic Games and Apple, was seen as a win for crypto developers, who can now link to external payment systems and NFT collections without incurring additional fees [1]. These changes reflect a broader trend of regulatory and competitive pressures reshaping the app-store landscape, which Solana Mobile aims to leverage through its decentralized platform [1].

The Seeker represents Solana’s vision of integrating blockchain technology into everyday mobile usage, offering a secure and decentralized alternative for users and developers. Whether it will achieve widespread adoption remains to be seen, but its launch underscores the growing convergence of mobile technology and Web3 innovation.

---

References:

[1] https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68913206db840933c477af54/