Highlights

▪ Jio Bharat to enable existing 250 million feature phone users with internet- enabled phones.
▪ Jio Bharat platform leverages device and network capabilities to deliver internet-enabled services on entry-level phones.
▪ Besides Reliance Retail, other phone brands (starting with Karbonn), to adopt the ‘Jio Bharat platform’ to build ‘Jio Bharat phones’.
* Jio Bharat phones come with access to 4G internet, entertainment apps, and even UPI money transfers.
* Reliance has also launched Jio Bharat plans starting at Rs 123 per month.

Reliance Jio on Monday launched the Jio Bharat phone platform, which will see affordable 4G feature phones with low-cost data plans to cater to over 250 million existing feature phone users.

The Jio Bharat phone is essentially a smart feature phone that not only lets you use the internet but also make UPI payments, and access Jio’s entertainment apps.
The 4G feature phone also comes bundled with Jio Bharat plans that offer unlimited calls and daily mobile data at affordable rates.

Jio has also launched the ‘Jio Bharat Platform’ which can be used by other handset makers to launch Jio Bharat phones. The telco in a statement said that besides Reliance Retail, Karbonn will be the first brand to adopt this platform.

Reliance Jio on Monday launched its new 4G phone, the Jio Bharat Phone, priced aggressively at Rs 999 to accelerate the migration of 250 million feature phone users to internet-enabled phones and corner more entry-level mobile broadband users, especially in the rural areas.

“India still has 250 million mobile subscribers trapped in the 2G era with feature phones. These feature phones do not provide access to internet, especially at a time when access to technology is a necessity which also uplifts one’s livelihood and economic well-being,” said Jio in a statement.

Lately, Jio said that this digital disempowerment and disparity for these feature phone users has worsened with other “telecom operators increasing the minimum price to stay connected by more than twice”.

“Even basic voice services for a 30-day period, which used to cost Rs 99 previously, now costs Rs 199. This segment is most exploited by incumbent operators because users in this segment are unable to afford smartphones. Not only do these users face the issue of affordability but also restriction from accessing digital services,” the telco said.

Accordingly, it said that the Jio Bharat Phone will empower every Indian with digital services and bridge the digital divide.
The phone allows a user to access JioCinema, JioSaavn, FM Radio, and make UPI payments through JioPay.

Jio has also launched the Jio Bharat Platform’ which can be used by other handset makers to launch Jio Bharat phones. The telco in a statement said that besides Reliance Retail, Karbonn will be the first brand to adopt this platform.

The telco will conduct a beta trial for the first one million Jio Bharat phones from July 7 across 6,500 tehsils.

“At only Rs 999, the lowest entry price for an internet-enabled phone,” Jio said.

This is 30% cheaper monthly plan and seven times more data compared to
feature phone offerings of other operators, it added.

The telco launched two new Jio Bharat plans, priced at Rs 123 and an annual Rs 1234 plan. The Rs 123 plan offers a total of 14GB data with 28 days validity, while the annual plan provides a total of 168GB data.

“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. 6 years ago, when lio was launched, we made it clear that Jio will leave no stone unturned to democratize
internet and pass the benefits of technology to every Indian,” said Akash Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio.

“Technology will no longer remain a privilege for a select few. The new Jio Bharat phone is another step in that direction,” said Ambani.

BETA TRIAL:

– Beta trial for first 1 million Jio Bharat phones begins from 7th July 2023.
– To ensure scalability of platform and processes for upgrading millions of
feature phone users.
– To be carried out across 6,500 tehsils.

PRICE:

– At only ₹ 999, the lowest entry price for an internet-enabled phone.
– 30% cheaper monthly plan and 7 times more data compared to feature phone
offerings of other operators.
– ₹ 123 per month for unlimited voice calls and 14 GB data, compared to other
operator’s ₹ 179 plan for voice calls and 2GB data.

While India is leading the 5G revolution on one side with the transformational Jio True 5G network, there is a section of society that is unable to reap the benefits of digital technology in entirety.

India still has 250 million mobile subscribers trapped in the 2G era with feature phones. These feature phones do not provide access to internet, especially at a time when access to technology is a necessity which also uplifts one’s livelihood and economic well-being.

Lately, this digital disempowerment and disparity for these feature phone users has become worse, with other telecom operators increasing the minimum price to stay connected by more than twice.
Even basic voice services for a 30-day period, which used to cost ₹ 99 previously, now costs ₹ 199.

This segment is most exploited by incumbent operators because users in this segment are unable to afford smartphones. Not only do these users face the issue of affordability but also restriction from accessing digital services.

Jio Bharat Phone Price in India

* Jio Bharat phone is priced at Rs 999 in India. The 4G smart feature phone comes in two colour options: Red and Blue.

* Besides Reliance Retail, other brands (starting with Karbonn), will adopt the Jio Bharat platform to launch Jio Bharat phones.

* Beta trial for the first 1 million Jio Bharat phones will begin from July 7th, 2023.

ROLE OF JIO BHARAT PHONE

1. Jio Bharat is being launched with the objective of empowering every Indian with the power of digital services, especially those who cannot afford a smartphone.

2. This will truly mark the beginning of Digital Freedom for the 250 million feature phone users in India and will bridge the digital divide.

3. High quality and affordable data will be within the reach of the common man.

4. The phone will provide features and digital capabilities that allow different segments of society to achieve more by doing more.

JIO BHARAT PLANS

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Akash Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio, commented, “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.

6 years ago, when Jio was launched, we made it clear that Jio will leave no stone unturned to democratize internet and pass the benefits of technology to every Indian. Technology will no longer remain a privilege for a select few.

The new Jio Bharat phone is another step in that direction. It is at the centre of innovation, and it continues to demonstrate our focus on bringing disproportionate and true value for different segments of users with meaningful, real-life use cases.

At Jio, we have and will continue to take bold steps to eradicate this DIGITAL DIVIDE and welcome every Indian to JOIN THIS MOVEMENT.

WE CARE for every citizen of our nation, and we will go the extra mile to ensure every single person reaps the benefits of this DIGITAL SOCEITY that our great nation is turning into.”

Jio Bharat Recharge Plans

The telco has also launched Jio Bharat plans that start at Rs 123 for 28 days. With this recharge plan, you get unlimited voice calls and 0.5/GB of data per day.
Then there’s the Jio Bharat annual plan priced at Rs 1,234, and this one also offers 0.5/GB per day and unlimited voice calls.

Jio Bharat Phone Features

* Jio is yet to reveal the specifications of its latest phone but it has announced key features about the device. For starters, the Jio Bharat phone looks like a regular feature phone with a tiny screen and physical keypad but it’s loaded with quite a lot of smart features.

* You can make UPI payments with this phone through the JioPay app. You can also watch movies, TV shows and through the Jio Cinema app. 

* The Jio Bharat phone also comes with the JioSaavn app which gives you access to over 8 crore songs. 

* You also get other basic features such as FM radio and a torchlight on the Jio Bharat Phone.

* Jio hasn’t revealed what OS the phone runs on so we don’t know if other apps like WhatsApp can be downloaded on it.

With the Jio Bharat phone, Reliance aims to empower the existing 250 million feature phone users with access to the internet.
The telco also plans to expand this ‘Jio Bharat platform’ to other brands so that more entry-level 4G phones can be developed. The first brand to implement this is going to be Karbonn.

Jio said that it’s going to start beta trials for the first 1 million Jio Bharat phones from July 7th onwards. This is part of the company’s goal to upgrade existing 2G feature phone users.
The trial run will be carried out in 6,500 tehsils in India.

Faqs

1) What is Jio Bharat Phone: Price in India and Availability?

Ans) The Jio Bharat phone is priced at Rs 999 and will go on sale in India starting on July 7. The first batch will be a part of the 1 million Jio Bharat phones program. This is to ensure the scalability of the platform and processes for upgrading millions of feature phone users. The device is said to be available across all Reliance and Jio stores across India, later this week.

2) What is Jio Bharat Phone: Features, Plan, and Specifications?

Ans) At Rs 999, the Jio Bharat phone is one of the cheapest 4G-enabled phones in India. As for the plans, Jio Bharat users will have to pay Rs 123 for 28 days plan, which will offer unlimited calls, 14GB 4G data, and access to Jio apps like JioCinema and Jio Saavn.

As for the specifications, the Jio Bharat comes with a 1.77-inch display and on the front, the device comes with a T9-style keypad. The phone also comes with a 0.3MP (VGA) camera on the back alongside an LED flash. In addition to this, the phone comes with features like FM radio, support for UPI payment, expandable storage, and a headphone jack. For UPI, the company says the payment will happen through JioPay.

In addition to the monthly plan of Rs 123, Jio Bharat Phone users can also opt for the annual plan, which will offer unlimited calls and 0.5GB of 4G data per day. Lastly, Jio also confirmed that other phone brands, starting with Karbonn will adopt the Jio Bharat platform to build Jio Bharat phones, which could be launched later this year.

Jio Bharat’s main objective is to empower every Indian with the power of digital services, especially those who cannot afford a smartphone, the company added.

3) Ambani’s Jio unveils $12 4G phone with digital pay and streaming.Details?

Ans) Reliance’s digital arm, Jio Platforms, has unveiled a new mobile handset and associated tariff plans, the latest in a series of years-long efforts from the top Indian telecom operator as it vies to convert users who remain “trapped” in the country’s legacy 2G networks.

Named “Jio Bharat,” the handset from Jio Platforms is 4G-enabled and offers a suite of modern features, including mobile payments capabilities with UPI, and access to Jio’s own on-demand video and music streaming services, JioCinema and JioSaavn. (Other specs include 48 GB memory, support for expandable storage with microSD card, 2-inch display and 0.3 VGA camera.)

The company said it will manufacture the Jio Bharat and also partner with other phone makers to adopt the Jio Bharat Platform to build the handsets. The Delhi-headquartered Karbonn has signed up to the platform, said the billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led firm in a statement.

The Jio Bharat is priced at 999 Indian rupees, or $12.2, Reliance said. The Jio Bharat is designed for 250 million consumers in India who have found the transition to 4G network prohibitively expensive, the Indian giant said. The handset is part of the offering; the other play is the new affordable tariff plan.

Jio Platform unveiled a new monthly plan that costs just 123 Indian rupees, or $1.5 that offers 14GB of data usage for the month and unlimited voice calls. For those subscribing for the year, the plan costs 1,234 Indian rupees, or $15.

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.”

“The new Jio Bharat phone is another step in that direction. It is at the centre of innovation, and it continues to demonstrate our focus on bringing disproportionate and true value for different segments of users with meaningful, real-life use cases,” said Akash Ambani, chairman at Reliance Jio, in a statement.

The Jio Bharat is not Ambani’s first foray into the world of budget handsets. Over the years, the India’s richest man has launched multiple affordable handsets. In late 2021, the company unveiled its inaugural smartphone, named the JioPhone Next. The venture marked a significant collaboration with Google, which provided an “extremely optimised” version of its Android mobile operating system to power 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, the $80 price tag attached to the JioPhone Next became a hindrance to the phone’s broader uptake.

The Jio Bharat “could disrupt the 2G market and help Jio gain share post fading success of Jiophone devices,” JP Morgan said in a report Tuesday.

“Bharti recently raised 2G prices from Rs99 to Rs155 across all circles while Vi took this in one circle. This disruptive step can halt incremental tariff increases for 2G and help JIO gain share in that segment. Jio already had become aggressive at the premium end in Mar’23 through aggressive postpaid plans in addition to fiber pricing.”

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