Mobile Blockchain
The mobile innovations that are helping the adoption of blockchain.
Dapps or Decentalised Applications are applications that are built using Etheruem’s programmable platform. Dapps are connected to the blockchain and to access these applications, as you do anything else on the blockchain, you need to be connected to a private key manager. Such a software would be Metamask which is a browser plug-in. These private key managers allow users to access Dapps without being a full blockchain node on the system, making the blockchain space more beginner friendly.
Mobile Dapps
It has become possible to not only explore Dapps on your computer browsers but also on your mobile phones. A recent development in this area would be the introduction to the recently released, Metamask mobile application. This application comes equipped with its own browser that uses Web3 to allow users to be able to access the decentralised web. This now allows you to have Dapps and even more at the palm of our hands. Along with bringing Dapps to the mobile phone, Metamask is still a wallet and so it provides the features where you can buy and earn crypto.
Metamask mobile application is new but it is not the only one of its kind on the market. Another secure option would be Trust wallet. Trust wallet is seen as secure because it stores your private information locally and not in the cloud, it also gets security experts audit their system on a very regular basis. According to their website, the company does not access user information.
Both Metamask and Trust wallet are available on mobile stores and are downloadable.
What if a third-party download is no longer necessary?
Recently, Samsung introduced its very own cold wallet which comes preloaded on their new Galaxy S Series called ‘Samsung Blockchain Keystore’. This wallet was designed by Samsung with the same functionalities as the downloadable private key managers mentioned earlier. The Samsung Blockchain Keystore generates your keys on its own and also securely stores your information using their Knox security layer that comes with the phone. It is imperative to mention that Knox, designed by Samsung, is used by traditional institutions to safeguard their data. Knox keeps your information separated and therefore your private blockchain information would be in its own secured part of the phone compared to your normal data.
Full Blockchain Mobile Phones
With this move Samsung is seen as an innovator and lead in the market with other tech giants like LG trying to rival Samsung. With such giants in the game, it may overshadow some smaller competitors that not only are making blockchain enabled smartphones but full blockchain smartphones that can act as a node. Blockchain smartphone innovations such as HTC’s Exodus and Pundi X’s ‘BOB’ will certainly impact the mobile application development industry. There will now be a need for these mobile applications to be decentralised applications as smartphones move more towards blockchain.
Final Thoughts
While the smartphone industry is moving towards the future and embracing the blockchain technology, it could possibly be too soon. With blockchain not as widely adopted as it could be, a full blockchain phone may sound appealing but may not be used to its full extent (will still have the ability to be used as a regular phone). At the same time, the smartphone industry aims to move with the times and always remain relevant and inclusive. It is known that persons see blockchain as the wave of the future. In the smartphone industry you never want to join the wave too late or you will be left behind. Never ignore the technology of the future, the catch up game is way more exhausting than riding the wave, unless you are Apple.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author above do not necessarily represent the views of the Ethereum Foundation.
