Verizon says it will have a Samsung 5G phone in early 2019

The 5G future continues to take shape with each passing day, and it took another big step toward reality Monday.

In a joint announcement, Verizon and Samsung said they will be working together to release a 5G smartphone in the “first half of 2019,” giving the wireless carrier its second 5G phone for its yet-to-launch network. The first phone, Motorola’s Z3, already is on sale, and users will be able to upgrade to 5G through a forthcoming accessory. Samsung’s phone, meanwhile, will have 5G built-in.

Verizon currently has a 5G network live in Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California, but that is designed as more of a home broadband alternative.

The company’s mobile 5G network, the more traditional network that phones will be able to tap into, is slated to launch early next year.

Not much is known about the Samsung device, though it will be powered by Qualcomm’s “flagship Snapdragon Mobile Platform” to connect to the newer, faster network. Given that the announcement coincides with Qualcomm’s annual Snapdragon Technology Summit in Maui, Hawaii, this week, it is possible more details on the processor and modem will be revealed there.

Samsung traditionally introduces new Galaxy S phones in the spring, making it possible the 5G phone will be a variation of the expected Galaxy S10.

By introducing a 5G phone next year, Samsung also would gain a leg up on Apple, which may be waiting until 2020 to release its first 5G iPhones.