Volk One

Volk One is the smartphone which transfers data on a distributed network of Volk Fi independent of the Internet and mobile operator.

2019: Availability to the preorder

On March 22, 2019 the Volk Wireless company (Volk Fi) reported that to the preorder the Volk One smartphone which transfers data on a distributed network of Volk Fi independent of the Internet and mobile operator became available. Data transmission comes directly from the smartphone to the smartphone therefore a certain density of users is necessary for correct network functioning.

Developers position the Volk One smartphone as the first-ever smartphone with the distributed communication. It is possible to order the device on the project website. Authors of the project promise to begin shipment of the first devices in December, 2019.

According to the company, communication of Volk One is provided by Volk Fi network to which smartphones and also routers delivered with them which are at the same time conceived as supports for wireless charging are connected. Routers it is connected to the Internet on Wi-Fi or through the Ethernet cable, and the smartphone is in turn connected to the router.

If there is no router nearby, Volk One finds other same smartphone and transmits data through it. Thus, in the presence in a certain area of enough users of Volk One, they create own data network which works irrespective of the Internet and mobile operator, providing to users free service. The smartphone can catch a signal of the router or other smartphone at distance of "several miles" thanks to the modern radio equipment, authors of the project on the website write.

Authors consider lack of payment for communication services one of key advantages of the project. Voice calls and Sms will be free. As for amount of data, the user can use free of charge the same amount of data what it transmitted through the smartphone for other users, and still plus 5 GB on top. After this limit is reached, cost for March, 2019 of traffic is $1 for 1 GB.

The Volk Fi network works without SIM card, however it is possible to insert the card of normal mobile operator into the smartphone. Nevertheless, Volk One will always address first of all a distributed network. Authors of the idea note that the Volk Fi network is safe, available to everyone and is not subject to censorship. Besides, Volk Fi on the contrary works with that quicker, than more devices are connected to it. An opportunity to make calls and to send messages to networks of different mobile operators or fixed connection is provided in networks.

The fact that normal work of a distributed network of communication requires a certain density of users on area section complicates the procedure of the order of the smartphone. To order Volk One, it is necessary to receive in social networks or by e-mail the invitation from someone from the friends who are already participating in the project.

For March, 2019 voice calls and the SMS to other networks are possible in the USA, Canada and Mexico, but developers promise to fill up the list of the countries. Porting of numbers is meanwhile supported only in the USA.

The Volk One smartphone will receive the screen with diagonal 6.2 inches and with a resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels at an aspect ratio 19:9. Will form a hardware basis for the smartphone eight-nuclear processor Snapdragon 845 with clock rate to 2.5 GHz. The graphic processor Adreno 630 will be responsible for graphics. 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB or 256 GB of a constant are provided. Both cameras will have permission of 16 MT.

Accumulator capacity is stated at the level of 3700 mAh. The smartphone will support LTE, the fingerprint scanner is provided. Dimensions of the device will make 155.2 mm x 76.1 mm x 7.7 mm weighing 179 g. The body will be executed of anodized aluminum and glass. Well to two color schemes: white and black.

The project caused some scepticism in Internet users. For example, subscribers of the Reddit resource note that the Volk Fi data network will be able to work normally only in the cities where density of users will be sufficient, and in rural areas the network will be inefficient. Also they note that permanent connection with other devices will quickly discharge the smartphone accumulator.

Users of the social news site Hacker News brought up a question of frequencies which will be used for data transmission by a distributed network. Are suggested that low frequencies most of all will be suitable for Volk Fi. Users consider that the project did not begin to buy the license from the Federal commission on communication of the USA, and will use instead range for the industrial, scientific and medical purposes (ISM) around 900 MHz.

However in this case the frequency spectrum will make only 26 MHz that potentially limits capacity of the channel of Shannon to 50 Mbps at a ratio of a signal and noise in 30 dB. Even taking into account a method of space coding of a signal of MIMO, users will have at most 50 Mbps for the general access separated between all devices connected to a node. It is not enough to compete with LTE networks.

Are suggested also that even 50 Mbps in this case are achievable only in the presence of the special infrastructure including super directional antennas of rather big size. For handheld devices with small omni-directional antennas the frequency of 900 MHz can be inefficient in use.

The Russian users who discuss the project in Telegram, note that when using range around 900 MHz data transmission is possible on distance to 500 m. Thus, theoretically the network will be able to work in Moscow in the presence in the city of 5 thousand Volk One smartphones which are evenly distributed on the area.^[1]

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