Reliance’s LYF Brand to Launch Feature Phones with 4G VoLTE to Support Jio 4G

[hike]

Reliance has launched the LYF brand to increase the market share of 4G VoLTE enabled smartphones so that there will be more devices to work with Jio 4G SIM. The Jio has only pan-India 4G license and works on devices that support 4G VoLTE. The 4G devices without VoLTE cannot make calls and are only limited to data usage. All the LYF smartphones launched till date came with 4G VoLTE support. The LYF smartphones priced above Rs. 10,000 doesn’t offer good value for money compared to smartphones from Chinese brands like Xiaomi and LeEco.
Initially, the Jio Preview Offer with unlimited voice calls and 4G data is only limited to LYF smartphones. This is the period, where LYF has a seen huge sales. Even the company also launched the most affordable 4G VoLTE smartphones Flame 3, Flame 4, Flame 5, and Flame 6 priced at just Rs. 2,999. Since the Jio Preview Offer which is now called as Jio Welcome Offer is made available to all, the LYF smartphone sales are now declined. We expect the LYF smartphones to come with exclusive offers once the trial period is completed.

Though the Rs. 2,999 priced smartphones are the most affordable devices; there are many Indians who just stick to the feature phones. Now, Reliance is rumored to bring VoLTE supported feature phones that work with Jio 4G SIM. Since these phones will be much more affordable, the company might capture a bit more market share as Jio offers unlimited voice calls with the basic Rs. 150 plan. We might even see a little more affordable plan since not all the users in the rural areas will spend Rs. 15o per month on their current networks.

According to Gizbot, these devices will be available by the end of 2016 or in early 2017. The VoLTE enabled feature phones will be powered by Spreadtrum 9830 processor. The LYF Flame 7 and Flame 7S smartphones are also powered by Spreadtrum processors. As of now, there is no much information regarding this. Even the most affordable Samsung device, Samsung Z2 running on Tizen OS also came with the same Spreadtrum 9830 processor. Take this with a pinch of salt until there is an official confirmation. We aren’t even 100% sure whether the phones will be launched under the LYF brand or not.

Stay tuned for more updates!
Reliance's LYF Brand to Launch Feature Phones with 4G VoLTE to Support Jio 4G » PhoneRadar

 

[rahul1117kumar]

Reliance attempting Monsoon Hungama yet again with a twist to garner million of users

Reliance Industries is preparing to launch feature phones with 4G capability, creating a new category of mobile devices in India in a bid to attract millions of users to its telecom venture Reliance Jio Infocomm.

These devices could be priced as low as Rs 1,000 and will come bundled with unlimited voice and video calling, besides digital content, people familiar with the plans said. The Mukesh Ambani-owned company will offer the feature phones with Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology, seeking to win over customers from the rural and tier-3 markets who use phones mainly to make calls.

“Jio wants to tap all the segments in the country and sees huge potential in the rural areas, which it now aims to tap with VoLTE feature phones,” one of the people said, adding that the new devices will be aimed at first-time data users. “The 2G feature phone is still a big market in India.”

About 65% of India’s more than 1 billion mobile phone subscribers still use feature phones. Affordability – the cheapest 4G smartphones cost about Rs 3,000 – and lack of scope for other uses have deterred the faster adoption of smartphones.

Jio, the only telco in India that offers VoLTE to make calls, has added over 25 million users since starting services on September 5 and is targeting 100 million in the shortest time, equivalent to about 38% of market leader Bharti Airtel’s 260 million subscribers in the country.
For that, tapping customers who use feature phones is essential, say experts. Currently, VoLTE is offered only on smartphones.

Reliance is developing two feature phones priced at about Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 that are likely be launched during January-March, another person said, asking not to be identified. The devices will function just like smartphones and will include the use of data to access the internet and make calls – the only thing missing will be the touchscreen.

“If Jio launches VoLTE feature phones at Rs 1,000, it can potentially shake up the market because the target audience in that segment may prefer to choose phones with free calling inbuilt,” said Navkendar Singh, a senior research manager with International Data Corp.

The 4G telco is working with domestic handset maker Lava International and Chinese original equipment makers to manufacture these feature phones. Jio is said to be subsuming part of the selling price to make the 4G feature phones available at about Rs 1,000 (about $15). The cost of making the phones is about $25 and they are usually sold for about Rs 2,500.

The initial batch of feature phones could have branding from both Jio and Lava and will be sold through their respective retail channels to reach a wider market, the people said.
RIL didn’t respond to emailed queries, while Lava declined to comment on specifics.

Lava Chairman Hari Om Rai told ET that the handset maker is looking to “partner” Jio in its endeavour to empower every citizen of the country. He said the company is evaluating the development of VoLTE feature phones, although he declined to comment specifically on a tying up with Jio for this new handset category.

Reliance won’t be the only company offering such devices. China’s Transsion, which sells the largest number of feature phones in Africa under the Itel brand, plans to introduce 4G feature phones in India by April.

“The platform for this technology is being tested and all the development is happening in China,” said Sudhir Mathur, head of Itel India. “We’re watching Reliance closely, for their model will shape our strategy.”

The VoLTE feature phones will have a keypad, front-facing and rear cameras and will run on the Android operating system. These devices will be equipped with Jio’s content applications such as Jio Chat, Live TV and video on demand. Jio will push its digital wallet service, Jio Money Wallet, through these feature phones.

The capability to make VoLTE calls in these feature phones will be enabled by chipsets, which Jio plans to source from Chinese company Spreadtrum, while talks are on with Qualcomm and Mediatek, people said. Qualcomm, Spreadtrum and Mediatek declined to comment.

Reliance attempting Monsoon Hungama yet again, but this time with a twist to garner millions of users - ET Telecom

 

[hike]

Reliance Jio to launch 4G feature phone priced below Rs. 1000

While we recently heard rumors about Reliance Jio’s plans to launch 4G feature phones, more details about the company’s plans have now surfaced.


According to sources, Reliance Industries is gearing up to launch feature phone with 4G LTE support in India. As expected, the handsets would come bundled with the Reliance Jio VoLTE services which would include unlimited voice and video calling. Further, the operator also intends to offer digital content as part of its offerings for the entry-level phones.

 

[dinee]

RE: Reliance Jio to launch 4G feature phone priced below Rs. 1000

Expect touch all features available it seems...

 

[iSK]

Reliance Jio to introduce India’s cheapest 4G LTE phones with free calls at Rs 1000

Reliance Jio is reportedly expected to launch a series of 4G VoLTE phones in India which will be priced between Rs 1000 – Rs 5000. Additionally, these devices will be bundled with unlimited voice and video calling and digital content such as Jio Chat, Live TV and video on demand. The company may launch these devices early 2017.

According to Economic Times, the Mukesh Ambani-owned company is seeking to win over customers from the rural and tier-III markets who use phones primarily to make calls. At the moment, Jio is the only telecom company in India that has added over 25 million users since starting its services on September 5.

In terms of specifications, the feature phones are rumoured to include a Spreadtrum 9820 processor, front-facing and rear cameras, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a large display. However, the report suggests that the phone will not to be enabled with touch screen. The report further added that the company is working with domestic handset maker Lava International and Chinese original equipment makers to manufacture these feature phones. People familiar with the matter said that the initial batch of devices could have branding from both Jio and Lava and will be sold through their respective retail channels to reach a wider market.

Previous reports pointed out that Reliance Jio Infocomm will install around 45,000 mobile towers in the next six months to boost its 4G network. The company has said that it has plans to invest Rs 1 lakh crore over a period of 4 years and the new towers are part of this investment. Jio said that it has made all effort to provide a good consumer experience but non-availability of point of interconnection from Airtel, Vodafone and Idea has led to high call failure rate on its network.

Economic Times

 

[Ritesh]

RE: Reliance Jio to introduce India’s cheapest 4G LTE phones with free calls at Rs 1000

They should introduce feature phones with only basic functions with good battery.

 

[hike]

RE: Reliance Jio to introduce India’s cheapest 4G LTE phones with free calls at Rs 1000

Oh! Bhaisahab it's already shared
https://onlytech.com/community/thre...phones-with-4g-volte-to-support-jio-4g.19906/

 

[iSK]

RE: Reliance Jio to introduce India’s cheapest 4G LTE phones with free calls at Rs 1000

Oh! Bhaisahab it's already shared

Where :huh Give link always :k

 

[hike]

RE: Reliance Jio to introduce India’s cheapest 4G LTE phones with free calls at Rs 1000

Where :huh Give link always :k

Added

 

[Siva]

I already merged this type of threads twice. Now another. Please search before posting guys!