US telco giant, Sprint, has partnered with HTC and Qualcomm, to build a 5G-capable mobile “smart hub”, releasing early next year.
The news quells rumours HTC is exiting the phone market to focus on VR, despite several periods of declining sales.
Whilst limited details are available, Sprint claims the mobile “smart hub” will deliver “multimedia and connected data capabilities in a compact and portable design.”
The device name, feature specifications, and launch date are scheduled to release later.
Many commentators expect the mobile “smart hub” to be a portable 5G hot spot, whilst some are considering a smart projector.
“This innovative product will allow customers on the go, at work or at home to enjoy Sprint 5G on multiple devices with incredibly fast connectivity for content sharing, mobile gaming, entertainment and so much more,” remarks Sprint Chief Technology Officer Dr John Saw.
The device is tipped to launch in the United States during the first half of next year.
HTC CEO, Cher Wang, claims the collaboration fuses its hardware technology with Sprint’s 5G network, building the “next generation of smart devices.”
Sprint has announced the device will incorporate a Qualcomm Snapdragon x50 5G modem with gigabit LTE and 5G capabilities.
It comes after Sprint announced its partnership with LG, to launch a 5G smartphone in H1Y19. The product claims to be one of the first 5G handsets in the US market.
The new mobile “smart hub” developed in conjunction with HTC and Qualcomm will be the second product made for Sprint’s 5G network.
Sprint plans to launch its mobile 5G network in nine American cities next year including; Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.
Further information is available on Sprint’s Newsroom here.