Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani launched Jio’s first feature phone– Jio Phone– at the company’s 40th Annual Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Birla Matushri Sabhagar in Mumbai on Friday. “Entry-level smartphones cost between Rs 3,000-4,500. I had challenged young engineers at Jio to find a solution to this cost. And now let me introduce India ka Smartphone, JioPhone,” he said while introducing the Jio Phone.
The phone comes with a 2.4-inch QVGA display and it also features an SD card slot, a headphone jack, FM radio and Torchlight. Jio Phone supports 22 Indian languages and it understands and responds to all voice commands just like all premium smartphones available in the market today.
‘Jio Phone is India’s first 4G-enable LTE phone’, Ambani said while talking about the features of the phone.
Jio Phone (Photo: YouTube)
Interestingly, Jio Phone comes with a host of pre-loaded which includes– Jio Music, Jio Cinema, Jio TV and Mann Ki Baat app and it is capable of sending a distress message to the emergency contact of the user along with his location on long pressing ‘5’ button. The company soon plans to integrate the local Police and emergency services with the phone. The device will also get NFC connectivity later this year.
Another important feature of the Jio Phone is its ability to make UPI-based payments. Users will also be able to make payments using their Jan Dhan accounts, debit and credit cards using the Jio Phone.
Jio Phone (Photo: YouTube grab)
Ambani said that with Jio Phone the company aims to provide ‘Digital Freedom’ to all feature phone users in the country. Jio Phone users will not only get unlimited free voice calls but also the access to unlimited data from August 15, 2017.
#RILat40
On the JioPhone, voice will ALWAYS be free: Mukesh Ambani— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) July 21, 2017
Announcing the tariffs, Ambani said that Jio Phone users will get free voice and SMS, unlimited data and access to Jio apps at per month price of Rs 153. Jio Prime user can also subscribe to Rs 309 pack on their Jio Phone to enjoy all the benefits of the Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan offers and view videos on their TV using Jio phone TV cable.
#RILat40
Starting 15th August this year, I am declaring DIGITAL FREEDOM for all feature phone users: Mukesh Ambani— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) July 21, 2017
Jio Phone will come at an effective price of Rs 0. However, users will have to make a fully refundable security deposit of Rs 1,500, which will be refunded after 3 years. Also, Jio Phone will be available for beta testing from August 15, 2017, and for pre-orders from August 24, 2017. The feature phone will be available on first cum first serve basis to all those who have pre-booked the phone from September this year.
#RILat40
Jio will give them access to UNLIMITED DATA on the JioPhone: Mukesh Ambani— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) July 21, 2017
#RILat40
Today, I am delighted to announce that JioPhone will be available to all Indians for an effective price of – Rs 0: Mukesh Ambani— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) July 21, 2017
#RILat40
This is how Jio will end the digital exclusion in India. And this is what I call true digital freedom: Mukesh Ambani— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) July 21, 2017
#RILat40
The JioPhone will be available for user testing in beta from 15th August and for pre-booking from 24th August: Mukesh Ambani— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) July 21, 2017
#RILat40
From last quarter of 2017, all JioPhones will be made in India. We are targeting to have 5 million JioPhones a week: Mukesh Ambani— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) July 21, 2017
#RILat40
JioPhone will make the 2G feature phone obsolete. With this, I am sure Jio will set a new world record: Mukesh Ambani— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) July 21, 2017
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