Sprint and HTC are working together on a "mysterious" 5G mobile smart hub that will deliver multimedia and connected data capabilities in a compact and portable design.

Available in the U.S. in the first half od 2019, the device was developed in collaboration between Sprint, HTC and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. A Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platform using the Snapdragon X50 5G modem powers this device with Gigabit LTE and 5G capabilities.

"We’re excited to continue building our 5G device portfolio and announce another way our customers can be among the first to experience Sprint 5G next year," said Dr. John Saw, Sprint chief technology officer. "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."

The companies didn’t disclose any other details about the device, such as what kinds of services it would offer or how much it would cost.

We could assume that the new gadget will likely be similar to the Wi-Fi hotspot that AT&T has promised to release later this year. AT&T’s Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot will connect nearby devices like tablets, laptops and phones to a 5G signal through Wi-Fi.

Verizon is also using 5G technology for exactly this kind of offering. The Verizon 5G Home service, available in four cities, costs $50 for existing Verizon mobile customers and beams stationary high-speed internet services into users’ homes and offices.

In the first half of 2019 Sprint plans to launch its mobile 5G network in nine of some of the largest cities across the US: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix and Washington, D.C., with additional markets to be announced.

Massive MIMO technology is a key part of Sprint’s 5G strategy and network build. This technology dramatically increases the capacity of Sprint’s LTE Advanced network today, and is software upgradable to 5G.