Ledger Releases Alpha Version of Android Wallet
Mobile applications complementing existing physical Bitcoin wallets are becoming more important in the world of digital currency these days. Ledger is the latest company to launch an alpha version of their Android wallet solution, and interested users will need to sign up to participate. An invite will be sent to those individuals who are approved to test the Ledger Android wallet, which is fully compatible with all of their existing hardware solutions.
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The Ledger Wallet Android Client
It has been a long time coming, but Ledger is finally ready to present an alpha version of their Android wallet to the general public. Or to be more precise, the company has opened a page where interested parties can request an invite to test the mobile solution in the coming days. It is important to keep in mind not all of the features Ledger wants to offer are available in this build just yet.
What is included in this alpha version, however, is an Android client that works with all of the existing Ledger hardware solutions. The Ledger Nano, Ledger Unplugged, and Ledger Blue are all supported, although there might be some tinkering required to get proper communication set up between devices.
Once users have set up their Ledger Android wallet, they will be able to see all of the transaction history that has taken place on their hardware wallet. This makes it easy to look for specific operations without the need for a computer or laptop. Additionally, users will also be able to generate QR codes for receiving payments. Do keep in mind this feature will be working a bit slower than people might expect, but the Ledger team will address this issue in a later version.
Other features include the option to sign transactions – with a 2FA keycard for Nano and Unplugged users – and the introduction of multi-account support. This latter feature will not include a naming option, and no information was revealed as to whether or not such an option will be added in the future.
Some Paired Devices Have Peculiar Needs
For example, to use the Ledger Nano with this alpha Android wallet, users will need to make use of an OTG adapter. While these adapters are relatively inexpensive these days, it is not something most people will have on hand. Such an adapter is not included when purchasing a Ledger Nano, unfortunately, but OTG adapters can be found in just about any electronics store these days.
The Ledger Unplugged, on the other hand, does not require additional hardware tools to connect to your mobile Android device. However, if your mobile phone does not support NFC capabilities, it will be impossible to pair both devices in this alpha version. Most modern mobile devices support NFC connectivity, but older model owners might have to wait for alternative solutions, or purchase a different Ledger hardware wallet.
Last but not last, there is the Ledger Blue, which is far less cumbersome to set up with this alpha Android wallet release. As this device supports connectivity over both Bluetooth LE and USB, most Ledger Blue owners will have no problem getting things synchronized between both devices when paired.
Plenty of Features Still To Come
As is the case with every alpha software release, there is still a ton of functionality missing. Creating new accounts, for example, is not possible, nor is there a UI or UX to speak of. These are some of the main features that will be coming in a future release, although the Ledger team did not provide an official timeline.
Other features users can look forward to include testnet integration, a settings menu to personalize the look and feel of the app, and far fewer app crashes. The main goal of this alpha release is collecting feedback and ironing out any remaining bugs in the code. There is no risk for Bitcoin loss when running the Ledger Android wallet, though it is recommended not to spend big amounts just yet.
What are your thoughts on this mobile wallet by ledger? Will you be signing up for an invitation? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: Reddit
Images courtesy of Ledger, Shutterstock
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