Reliance Jio announced the launch of Jio Bharat 4G phones in India for just Rs 999. The company says its two new phones aim to make India free of 2G (2G-Mukt) with its 4G services, while smartphones by other brands are getting ready with Jio 5G services.
The Jio Bharat also comes as the company’s initiative to empower Indians with digital services, “especially those who cannot afford a smartphone.” The first beta trial of the phones will begin this week across 6,500 tehsils. The company has also launched Jio Bharat mobile plans, promising internet data at an affordable price. Here are five things to know about Jio’s new Jio Bharat initiative.
–There are two Jio Bharat entry-level phones with some smartphone-like capabilities at a competitive price. The two look similar to old feature phones but with support for 4G connectivity. One of the Jio Bharat phones was co-created with Indian manufacturer Karbonn, called Jio Bharat K1 Karbonn. Jio says other manufacturers will also get to adopt the ‘Jio Bharat platform’ to build ‘Jio Bharat phones.’
The Jio Bharat phone co-created with Karbonn — Jio Bharat K1 Karbonn — features a mix of red and black. The front includes the “Bharat” branding, while the back has the “Karbonn” logo. The phone includes the old-school T9 keyboard and flashlight at the top. There’s also a camera on the back, but the specifications remain unclear. Otherwise, the phone supports UPI payments with JioPay. Users can also watch movies or sports matches on JioCinema.
–Another iteration of the Jio Bharat phone created by Reliance Jio, dubbed Jio Bharat V2, adopts a blue colour, similar to the company’s brand colour. The camera module on the back features a different rectangular design. There’s no flashlight, but there’s a headphone jack. Again, the camera details remain unknown. Otherwise, offered services remain the same. Users can make payments and watch movies via Jio apps. It is also likely that the phones support WhatsApp.
Coming to availability, Jio says Jio Bharat phones’ first batch, which includes 10 lakh units, will be available across 6,500 tehsils. The price remains the same at Rs 999. Interestingly, Jio launched the JioPhone Next with Android OS in 2021. It was priced at Rs 6,499.
–To celebrate the Jio Bharat phones’ launch, the company has also announced the basic price of recharge plans. It will offer unlimited voice calls and 14GB of data at just Rs 123 per month for Jio users. The annual plan costs Rs 1234 with 168GB of data (500MB per day). Jio says this will “truly mark the beginning of Digital Freedom” for the 250 million feature phone users in India and will bridge the digital divide.