APhone, a decentralized cloud-based smartphone, is set to challenge the dominance of Apple and Google with the introduction of its web3-native app store called AppNest. The launch of the AppNest store on June 19 aims to support blockchain-based decentralized applications as well as traditional web2 apps, all while eliminating the fees that developers typically face with Apple and Google, which can reach up to 30%.
William Paul Peckham, the chief business officer at APhone, expressed the company’s mission to democratize technology access and provide a comprehensive Web3 mobile experience globally without any geographical or economic restrictions.
AppNest will host a range of apps including popular web3 applications like MetaMask, Phantom, and Binance, alongside well-known web2 apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and ChatGPT. The AppNest store is exclusively accessible through the APhone app.
The launch of AppNest follows the successful debut of Solana Mobile’s Saga phone in June 2022, which quickly sold out in the United States and Europe. Saga gained significant attention as meme coin issuers distributed tokens to Saga phone owners. Buyers of the Saga phone were eligible for a drop of 30 million BONK tokens, valued at $643.5 today and reaching $1,364 at the token’s peak in March.
The Saga phone also sparked interest in the decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) sector after Helium, a crypto-native mobile plan provider, introduced services for Saga users. In January, Solana Mobile began accepting pre-orders for its upcoming phone, ‘Chapter 2,’ scheduled for release next year.
APhone has partnered with Aethir, a DePIN provider, to power its operations. The collaboration between the two companies began in March, with APhone utilizing Aethir’s decentralized cloud architecture to enhance its services. Julie Zhu, APhone’s tech lead, highlighted Aethir’s decentralized cloud technology as a crucial element that enables users to experience mobile freedom by virtualizing smartphones on the blockchain, offering capabilities beyond physical device constraints.
The APhone functions as a cloud phone capable of running advanced Web3 applications and traditional apps on any web browser-compatible device, featuring a dedicated seed vault in conjunction with the Android OS. On June 12, Aethir launched its decentralized cloud computing network.
