ech Titans Tease 'Universal Basic Smartphone' Collaboration: Speculation Abounds

Widespread speculation suggests The Open Network (TON), HashKey, and Oyster Labs are collaborating to launch a new smartphone, dubbed the "Universal Basic Smartphone."

Robert Lee, co-founder of Web3Convention, sparked speculation with an X post capturing a moment from the TON Blockchain Hackathon's final stage, TON Hacker House, held on April 4 in Hong Kong.

The Event and Speculation

At the event, 100 programmers showcased over 20 projects to compete for technical advice, financial subsidies, and a share in a $1.5 million reward pool.

A presentation slide unveiled plans for a "High-quality Phone with Affordable Pricing," listing specs like an 8-core processor, 6 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, USB-C input, and a 4050mAh lithium-ion battery, all at a price point of $99.

Lee's post revealed that he purchased a TON mobile phone on site to test it out, along with a photo he took with the "TON phone creator."

Public Response and Further Investigation

Concerned users questioned the validity of the information on TON's official account, prompting no response from TON yet.

Crypto Briefing investigated a website claiming to be the phone's pre-order page, finding it unfinished with unresponsive buttons for "Privacy" and "Terms."

An administrator in a Telegram group, allegedly linked to the initiative, announced the official pre-order launch for April 8.