Laver said that while the phone is still in its early stages, there will be software upgrades over time to keep things fresh.<\/p>\n

Last June, Yakovenko said the phone would be delivered in Q1 2023, but deliveries have since been pushed to Q2. The phone is available for preorder with a $100 deposit.<\/p>\n

A number of major web3 companies like crypto wallet Phantom, NFT marketplace Magic Eden and the now-collapsed crypto exchange FTX shared in June that they were partnering with Solana to help launch the phone, alongside a $10 million developer fund for people who build apps on it.<\/p>\n

This phone is an attempt for web3 to compete with Big Tech providers like Apple, Microsoft and, of course, Android \u2014 but many are skeptical of its potential to do so given its niche market.<\/p>\n

Last year, Yakovenko said the phone is \u201ctargeting the hardcore people who know what self-custody means. You gotta start with a group that loves this product and grow from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Laver sees this as a device for a bigger crypto audience. He said Saga\u2019s team is planning a marketing push with crypto-native users as well as people who are \u201ccrypto curious.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want this to be someone\u2019s phone,\u201d Laver said. \u201cThis is the only phone I carry, I don\u2019t have a second phone; it does everything a phone should do plus web3 things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laver didn\u2019t disclose the exact number of phones that were preordered, but said the number was in the \u201chigh single digits of thousands.\u201d The phone is certified for sale in 33 countries and the company plans to expand to other countries in the long term, he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in this interesting place where we\u2019re building interesting technologies, but also interested to see where people take it next,\u201d Laver said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have a roadmap of A, B or C. We\u2019ve done \u2018A\u2019 of building this phone, but we\u2019re excited to see where people take it next for \u2018B\u2019 and \u2018C.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/br><\/br><\/br><\/p>\n