Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

slide 3 of 2
THE BIZNOB – Global Business & Financial News – A Business Journal – Focus On Business Leaders, Technology – Enterpeneurship – Finance – Economy – Politics & LifestyleTHE BIZNOB – Global Business & Financial News – A Business Journal – Focus On Business Leaders, Technology – Enterpeneurship – Finance – Economy – Politics & Lifestyle

Technology

Technology

Reliance Jio’s $12 4G phone revives rural India effort by Ambani.

JioCinema logo is seen in this illustration taken April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration JioCinema logo is seen in this illustration taken April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
JioCinema logo is seen in this illustration taken April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration JioCinema logo is seen in this illustration taken April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Listen to the article now

On Monday, billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s telecom arm Reliance Jio announced a 4G feature phone priced at 999 rupees ($12.19).

Jio, which notably upset the Indian telecom business in the last decade by launching low-price plans, will provide entry-level phones with internet services like digital payment to reach individuals who have not yet switched to smartphones.

“There are still 250 million mobile phone users in India who remain ‘trapped’ in the 2G era,… at a time when the world stands at the cusp of a 5G revolution,” Reliance Jio chairman Akash Ambani said.

Jio has 439 million telecom users, far ahead of Vodafone Idea (VODA.NS) and Bharti Airtel (BRTI.NS).

After the tariff disruption 2016, Jio launched the 4G JioPhone smartphone at 6,499 rupees in 2021. A market survey by IIFL Securities in May found that despite a price decrease, sales have slowed.

Counterpoint Research shows India sells less than 1% of 4G feature phones.

“Feature phone to smartphone transition has slowed down due to high learning curve for a lot of rural Indian users and Jio Bharat aims to bridge that gap,” said Counterpoint Research analyst Tarun Pathak.

Feature phones have more features than basic phones but fewer than smartphones.

“4G is still a significant opportunity in India considering the 5G devices remain elusive from the sub-10,000 rupee segment… and will also help Jio in giving consumers a taste of its services ecosystem,” Pathak added.

The company said the beta trial for the first 1 million JioBharat phones will begin on July 7 in 6,500 Indian tehsils.

Last year, parent Reliance Industries (RELI.NS) announced it was collaborating with Google to create an affordable 5G smartphone but has not released any updates.


Comment Template

You May Also Like

Business

Disney and Reliance are working on terms of the India media operations merger (ET). The most valuable companies in India, Reliance Industries (RELI.NS), and...

Business

On July 26, 2023, Indian shares are projected to open positively as investors cautiously await the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s monetary policy...

Business

Bodhi Tree, a joint venture between James Murdoch and a former Star India executive, would invest 43.06 billion rupees ($527.84 million) in Reliance’s (RELI.NS)...

People

Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani was born on the 19th of April 1957. He was born in Aden, Yemen. Back then, the British Crown colony of...

Notice: The Biznob uses cookies to provide necessary website functionality, improve your experience and analyze our traffic. By using our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Cookie Policy.

Ok