INTERNATIONAL - Mobile and Electronics company HTC has announced that they will be developing a blockchain-powered smartphone which the company will be naming Exodus.
The device will be using an Android Operating System (OS) and will include built-in support for blockchain applications and will include a universal cryptocurrency wallet. Exodus is being developed by a team lead by Vive creator Phil Chen, who is overseeing the cryptocurrency and blockchain initiatives at HTC.
What is Vive?
undefinedThe HTC Vive is a virtual reality headset developed by HTC and Valve Corporation. The headset's technology allows a user to move in 3D space and use motion-tracked handheld controllers to interact with the environment.
Who is Phil Chen?
Phil Chen is the Chief Content Officer of HTC & Cofounder of Vive. In 2007, Chen joined HTC as a as product manager, building the first android phones the world has seen.
As Head of HTC's business and corporate development, he has led investments into KKBox, Soundhound, Magnet, and the acquisition of Beats electronics.
Before investing in the corporate world, Chen use to served as a missionary in Afghanistan, Ghana, and China and also worked as a research assistant at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.
Additionally, HTC said it will also launch its own blockchain network, with each Exodus smartphone acting as a node which will connect to the network and facilitate transactions.
The Exodus phone will have support for bitcoin, ethereum, and other major networks.
“Through Exodus, we are excited to be supporting underlying protocols such as Bitcoin, Lightning Networks, Ethereum, Dfinity, and more,” said Chen.
Blockchain-powered smartphones further feature integrated cold wallet storage and trade directly with other wallets without third-party interfaces.
HTC did not reveal any pricing information for its Exodus smartphone, but said it will accept payment in cryptocurrency.
However, HTC’s Exodus might be the world’s second blockchain-powered phone.
The first one, created by Sirin Labs, called Finney, is a phone that lets people store and use digital currencies while skipping transaction fees. It costs $1,000