One of the first commercial 5G smartphones will be available to buy in the US during the first half of 2019, it has been announced. Samsung has partnered with Verizon and Qualcomm Technologies to bring a 5G mobility service that will go live early next year.
Plans to unveil a proof of concept is expected at their annual Qualcomm Snapdragon Technology Summit in Maui this week. It will be powered by the upcoming flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile Platform, Snapdragon X50 5G NR modem and antenna modules with integrated RF transceiver, RF front-end and antenna elements.
The 5G mobility service will welcome a “new era of mobile connectivity”, which will enable better connectivity, provide massive bandwidth, and the ability to download feature films in seconds.
“5G will usher in a new era of mobile connectivity, allowing people to connect to data, experiences and other people in ways never thought possible,” said Brian Higgins, vice president, wireless device and product marketing at Verizon. “Together, Samsung and Verizon have made huge gains in bringing 5G commercial services to consumers in several cities. Now, we’re partnering to create a smartphone to put the power of 5G in the palm of your hand.”
In October, Verizon launched 5G Home; the world’s first commercial 5G service that went live in Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento. Once their mobility service is implemented next year, Samsung 5G smartphone users will immediately benefit from the speed and capacity of Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network.
“Samsung offers end-to-end solutions that are accelerating the wide scale adoption of 5G and help us realize our vision of truly connected living,” said Justin Denison, senior vice president, Mobile Product Strategy and Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “We’re proud to work alongside innovative partners like Verizon and Qualcomm Technologies to deliver a smartphone that will fundamentally transform how people work and play.”
