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HTC's 'Exodus' blockchain phone is made for a decentralized future
Just as HTC is gearing up for the launch of its next flagship smartphone come May 23rd, today it made a surprising announcement: it's also making a blockchain phone dubbed "Exodus" on the side. There aren't any specifics about this privacy-focused Android device just yet, but it will feature a universal wallet supporting Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dfinity, Lightning Networks plus other cryptocurrency protocols. The company is aiming to "double and triple the number of nodes of Ethereum and Bitcoin" through its Exodus units, while delivering decentralized applications (DApp) to more consumers.
Sirin's 'blockchain smartphone' will have flagship specs
Late last year, Sirin Labs launched a crowd-sale for what it is calling the "world's first blockchain smartphone." The Finney, named after the late Bitcoin developer Hal Finney, is due to arrive at some point this year. And when it does, it's likely to be packing the sort of spec list that you would expect from a flagship smartphone.
IBM is using blockchain to confirm the origins of jewelry
While blockchain is the system that supports cryptocurrency, the decentralized ledger can have wide applications outside of crypto. Today, TechCrunch reports that IBM has set up a blockchain system to trace the provenance of jewelry. TrustChain accomplishes this by following gems from the mine where they're procured all the way to the store where they are sold.
Samsung may use blockchain for its global shipping system
Samsung is considering shifting to a blockchain-based system to keep track of its product shipments around the world. According to Bloomberg, the head of blockchain at the company, Song Kwang-woo, said that it could slash shipping costs to the tune of 20 percent.
Austin test uses blockchain to improve ID for the homeless
Many people take identification for granted, but it's a serious challenge if you're homeless. If you lose what's on your back, you might lose everything -- and recovering that ID is much harder when you have no fixed address or easy transportation to government offices. Austin might have a technological solution. The Texas city is piloting a system that uses blockchain identifiers to safeguard the IDs and vital records of homeless people in a way that's more accessible for service providers.
Huawei may be developing a 'blockchain smartphone'
Huawei Technologies is reportedly considering developing a mobile phone using Sirin Labs' operating system. The phone would be capable of running blockchain applications alongside Android. According to Bloomberg, the talks are occurring privately. There is no agreement in place. If these plans come to fruition, then Huawei Technologies, which is the third largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, would be the first major handset maker to support blockchain.
Coca-Cola and US government use blockchain to curb forced labor
The quest to end forced labor has created some unusual technological allies. Coca-Cola, the US State Department and a trio of crypto organizations (Bitfury Group, Blockchain Trust Accelerator and Emercoin) have launched a pilot project that will use blockchain to enforce worker rights. The initiative would use blockchain's distributed ledger technology to create a secure, decentralized registry for workers and their contracts. They'd not only have the sort of identification that isn't always guaranteed, but a trail of evidence in case employers abuse their power or don't honor their end of a bargain.
