The Aptos network and the makers of the Jambophone are working on a joint venture to make a low-cost crypto smartphone for the African and Latin American markets.
The Aptos cryptocurrency network and the producers of the Jambophone announced on February 16 a venture to create a branded crypto smartphone. Based on the $99 Jambophone, the new item is aimed at the African and Latin American markets, and on tapping the ‘banking the unbanked’ market.
Crypto smart phones are nothing new, and some big-name brands have made them. Did they really ever catch on? Why or why not? Let’s take a look.
Jambophone and its crypto wallet
While the company claims that their phone is already out in 40 markets and comes preloaded with aps including a wallet, there is relatively information out on the phone. The Aptos tie in may help that as the crypto community begins to pay more attention to it.
According to Jambo, the idea behind the phone was to make it easier for non-tech end users to get access Web 3.0. They point to the difficulty some users have in setting up wallets and handling keys, and to remove this issue, the software needed for gaming and crypto is already loaded. Does it work? Aptos apparently thinks so.
A Real Saga of a Cryptophone
Jambophone is the latest offering in the ‘cryptophone’ type of smartphone. It’s not the first in the class. It is unusual in that it is neither tied to a particular platform nor very expensive. There was a spate of first generation cryptophones that came out just before the COVID pandemic. They were generally panned as smartphones with crypto wallets added on. They were expensive. Wallet security was an issue.
The next generation attempted to build the Web 3.0 experience. The Solana Saga cryptophone is a good example of this. The Saga, introduced in 2022 and made available for general purchase in 2023.
The Saga and Jambophone share one characteristic, according to reviews. They both make the use of crypto wallets easier than a smartphone with a wallet app. The similarities end there, as the Saga’s Web 3.0 emphasis and premium price point definitely target the tech savvy.
For those who fall somewhere in between the need for ease of the Jambophone and the powerhouse of the Saga, a ‘regular’ smartphone and an app might do the job. While we will look at wallet apps in a separate article, a glance at one offering is worthwhile.
Samsung Blockchain Wallet
Samsung is one of the first smartphone manufacturers to put a blockchain wallet onto a phone. The Samsung Blockchain Wallet has been around for years, though it will be incorporated into Samsung Wallet in the near future, according to the company’s website. While they are not specifically marketed as phones for the crypto enthusiast, the setup required might put off the less tech savvy.
There’s one other aspect to the Samsung offering that differentiates it from Jambo. If the latter is trying to help bank the unbanked, then Samsung is certainly trying to help rebank the banked. The Samsung Blockchain Wallet only works on the company’s high end phones, namely the Galaxy S20 Series, Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Note 10 Series, Galaxy Fold, and Galaxy S10 series.
