Mukesh Ambani’s Jio has unleashed world’s cheapest 4G phone, at just ₹999 ($12) with digital payment and streaming capabilities.
India revolutionizes in tech & internet, focusing to relay the technology to all people in the country, including the impoverished. Letting internet & digital payments accessible to everyone, Jio introduces most affordable 4G phone – Jio Bharat, for ₹999 ($12.15).
“There are still 250 million mobile phone users in India who remain ‘trapped’ in the 2G era,unable to tap into basic features of the internet at a time when the world stands at the cusp of a 5G revolution,” said Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio.
Features of Jio Bharat
Jio Bharat is a normal button-phone, but loaded with a suite of modern features including 4G, mobile UPI payments, and Jio’s own streaming platforms – JioCinema, JioPlay and JioSaavn. The 999 rupees phone also equips a camera and a 48GB memory with support for expandable storage with microSD card up to 128GB.
With 0.3 VGA camera, you can’t expect quality pictures, but you can still click photos. The phone has a 1000mAh battery and supports 23 languages. Jio Bharat only allows for Jio SIM and any other SIM would be invalid in the phone.
Reliance Jio added that it will manufacture Jio Bharat phones and also unfold arms to other phone-makers for adopting the Jio Bharat platform to build handsets. Karbonn, a Delhi-headquartered smartphone brand is one among to join hands with Jio Bharat.
Reliance said it will start offering the Jio Bharat to consumers starting July 7 as part of a “beta trial.” It said the trial is put in place to “ensure scalability” of platform and processes for upgrading “millions of feature phone users.”
Jio Bharat Plans
In addition to Jio Bharat, Jio also introduces new tariff recharge plans affordable and suitable for the 4G phone & also other handsets with Jio network. A new monthly plan that costs ₹123 ($1.5) offers 14GB of data usage for the month and unlimited voice calls. For those subscribing for a year, the plan costs ₹1,234 ($15).
Not the First Time
Reliance Jio had been in track of launching affordable phones to Indian people in the past few years. Jio unveiled its first smartphone, called “JioPhone Next” in 2021, which was ventured partnering with Google. The collaboration brought the JioPhone Next, an extremely optimized version of Android mobile operating system powering the device.
“The JioPhone Next is an affordable smartphone designed for India, inspired by the belief that everyone in India should benefit from the opportunities the internet creates,” Sundar Pichai said in 2021.
However, being so affordable at just $80 (₹6600), the phone gets overshadowed.
While, Bharti Airtel and Vi has recently raised 2G prices from Rs.99 to Rs.155, Jio is disrupting the 2G market with upgrades, which might help Jio gain considerable share in 2G-market segment.
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