Ever since the launch of Reliance Jio in September last year, a wave of digital transformation has been created in the country thereby attracting more and more users to the era of Internet. Reliance Jio has single-handedly been able to grow a consumer base of about more than 100 million ever since its launch and every new subscriber adding to the circuit every 7th second.

Since the announcement of Reliance Industries’ Annual General Meeting to be held on 21st July, 2017 in Mumbai on the eve of the company’s 40th Anniversary, rumors of Reliance launching a NextGen Feature Phone at a price as low as 500 INR were on a roll.

With a goal to dominate the Mobile Sector as well and also to bring the Internet-starved people to the diverse world of Internet, Reliance under the guidance of Chairman Mr. Mukesh Ambani has launched an affordable 4G VoLTE-enabled feature phone which goes by the name JioPhone at Rs. 0, absolutely free.

Free! Yes, you heard it right.

But, there’s a catch here. While the cost of the phone remains free, a user has to pay a nominal refundable security deposit of Rs.1500 which would be refunded after 3 years(even an entry-level smartphone costs you a minimum 3000-4000 bucks). And the term refundable here implies, a user can return his/her used JioPhone after 36 months to claim the refund. Amazing! Isn’t it?

What exactly JioPhone is? What makes it stand apart from its competitors?

1) “Made In India” Product.

2) 100% 4G LTE support and yes, it’s a feature phone!(No more 2G and 3G)

3) Unlimited calls, SMSs free for a lifetime as promised at Reliance Jio launch.

4) Support for 22 major languages.

5) Get your tasks done at the tip of your tongue! JioPhone’s voice assistant is there to help you.

6) Keyboard shortcuts such as long pressing the key 5 lets you connect to your Emergency Contacts in no time.

7) NFC Support to be brought on JioPhone in near future by means of a software upgrade with the current hardware in the phone being compatible with the same. A user can then link his Bank Account, Jan Dhan Account, UPI Account, Debit/Credit Cards thus encouraging cashless transactions.

8) And the most important aspect, the Data! With JioPhone, a user will get access to unlimited data without caps at a cost of 153 INR per month thereby being a crucial factor for Digital Freedom among the Indians.

9) Apart from access to Jio's own apps like JioCinema, JioTV and JioMusic, JioPhone also supports JioPhone Browser, Facebook, and also PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat Broadcast.

10) You will be able to mirror your JioPhone on any television(be it smart LEDs or conventional CRTs) using a cable developed by the company to show content from JioTV and JioCinema apps to watch the content on the big screen. This feature comes at the cost of a mere 309 INR. The company will also provide two sachet packs, at Rs.24 for two days, or Rs.54 per week, for users who don't want to commit to Rs. 309 as an upfront payment. Your phone becomes your TV! Doesn’t that sound cool?

With Reliance’s JioPhone penetrating into the market, Mukesh Ambani aims to provide internet access at fingertips to every individual in the nation at an effectively low cost. With about 5 million units to be made available every week, Reliance expects to bring a Digital Revolution in the country at a rapid pace.

Reliance JioPhone Specifications

On the specs front, Reliance JioPhone will come with a 2.4-inch QVGA display, Dual-sim functionality, 2MP Rear Camera, VGA Front Camera, Torchlight, FM Radio and Bluetooth connectivity. The JioPhone has been tipped to come with a 4GB of internal storage and 512MB of RAM with SD card slot.

Reliance JioPhone Price

Summed up as "India Ka Smartphone", the highly anticipated JioPhone will be offered to users without charging a penny. Yes, the JioPhone is absolutely free however a user has to pay a nominal charge of Rs.1500 as a refundable security deposit which would be reversed after 3 years. The user can claim for a refund after 36 months of use.

Reliance JioPhone Availability

On the eve of India's 70th Independence Day, the phone will be available for beta test from 15th of August whereas the pre-booking will start from 24th August and the deliveries starting from September on a first come, first serve basis. Users can book the phone from Jio offline stores and MyJio App.

The Company Vision

“Data is the oxygen of digital life, and no Indian should suffer because of unaffordability. Sadly the vast majority of mobile users are starved of data. This unfairness must end, and Jio is committing to ending it today”, quoted Mukesh Ambani concluding the meeting.

Will JioPhone be able to bridge the gap between a Feature Phone and the Internet, will it enable the Internet-deprived public to embrace the World Wide Web without any hassle, will it bring a digital revolution on a large scale across the country, only time will tell!