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

[Saj 007]

Reliance Jio 4G VoLTE-Enabled Feature Phone Purported Image Leaked...

Reliance Jio is rumoured to be planning the launch of 4G VoLTE-enabled feature phones, priced between Rs. 999 and Rs. 1,500. Now, an anonymous tipster has sent an image to Gadgets 360, said to be of a Reliance Jio VoLTE-enabled feature phone.
The image of the purported Reliance Jio VoLTE-enabled feature phone was not accompanied by any other details. All that's visible is the presence of four buttons below the display and above the alphanumeric keyboard, corresponding to the MyJio, JioTV, JioCinema, and JioMusic apps, from left to right.
As per an earlier report, Reliance Jio is expected to use Spreadtrum chipsets for its 4G VoLTE feature phones, though the company was also said to be in talks with chip giants Qualcomm and MediaTek for low-cost 4G LTE enabled processors.
While the report had also tipped the presence of both front and rear cameras on the 4G VoLTE-enabled feature phones, the image shared with Gadgets 360 doesn't confirm this piece of information. Two Reliance Jio feature phones are said to be in development, but, no launch time-frame is available.

The entry of Reliance Jio into the Indian telecom sector has caused a massive upheaval, with rivals rushing to offer competitive plans, and smartphone manufacturers rushing to launch VoLTE-enabled smartphones.
Reliance Industries in its Q3 financial and operational performance report revealed Reliance Jio has over 72.4 million subscribers as of December 31, 2016 - gained in less than four months since launch of September 5. The company also revealed the Reliance Retail had sold 2.8 million Lyf devices and accessories in the quarter.

Reliance Jio 4G VoLTE-Enabled Feature Phone Purported Image Leaked | NDTV Gadgets360.com

 

[iSK]

Looking nice

 

[Saj 007]

Looking nice

Yes dedicated keys for Jio services...

 

[Sarkar]

Govt has mandated GPS in all phone. Are they planning to introduce GPS in it ? :huh

 

[rahul1117kumar]

Reliance Jio asks Foxconn, Chinese ODM partners to make VoLTE smartphones, other products in India

Reliance Industries has asked its Chinese and Taiwanese original device manufacturers (ODMs) partners, including Foxconn, to make its Lyfbranded 4G smartphones, smart set-top boxes, home automation and automobile telematics devices among others in India.

“It is a contract clause for these partners to locally make/assemble their devices over a period of time. They [Reliance] have told everyone to do it,” a person familiar with the matter told ET.

Foxconn, the world’s largest contract manufacturer, will start production of VoLTE handsets for Reliance Retail’s Lyf brand of 4G smartphones in India and rest of the devices by other vendors will follow suit.

“Foxconn has its own set of handsets that they will make for Reliance’s Lyf. Local sourcing will bring down costs of these devices,” the source added. However, he didn’t offer any specific time period for the production. Affordable devices ARE critical for wider adoption of 4G mobile services offered by the group’s telecom company Reliance Jio Infocomm.

Another person familiar with Foxconn’s plans said the volumes for the Lyf phones are still under discussions. “Foxconn can be the number one partner for Jio, as nobody can match the scale that it has,” the person added.

Foxconn re-entered the world's fastest growing smartphone market in 2015 with a mobile phone assembly plant in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, which it expanded to five plants with a total capacity of about 12-13 million a year.

The Taiwanese contract manufacturer is now in the process of setting up its next factory in India in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. ET had earlier reported its greenfield unit in Navi Mumbai with an an initial investment of $20-30 million will start by making mobile phones and move on to other products.

Queries sent to Foxconn and Jio went unanswered.

Reliance industries through its retail arm, Reliance Retail, is currently working with a number of Chinese ODMs to procure 4G VoLTE smartphones and pocket routers, besides Foxconn. It is sourcing these products from Chinese ODMs like ZTE, CK Telecom, Wingtech, and Tinno Mobile.

PLANS BEYOND MOBILE SERVICES

Having garnered 72 million 4G mobile users in India with the help of free data and voice services, Jio is now also planning to enter automobile telematics with the launch of a car connected device the telco has developed in house. The device will control a vehicle's movement and alert owners about fuel and battery through a mobile app besides providing WiFi.

The first person quoted earlier said Jio is in advanced talks with automobile companies to launch the device to be offered at about Rs 2,000 in the coming months. The company is working on modalities on its sales model for existing cars. The hardware device will be initially imported from China, but the vendor has been asked to start making it in India after the initial roll-out.

FTTH FOCUS 

Jio is now scaling up its fibre to the home (FTTH) project for which it is running pilot in some cities including Delhi and Mumbai. The telco’s FTTH service will come bundled with JioMedia share device, smart set top box, routers and Power Line Communication (PLC) devices.

With the help of these products, Jio will offer a slew of services such as HD TV and Video on Demand (VoD) and JioCloud offering under home entertainment bouquet. It will also feature landline phone service.

The telco’s FTTH service will also enable new services such as home automation that will allow users to convert basic electronic products into smart products with the installation of 6 to 7 Smart Plugs. These Smart Plugs will allow users to control the entire home with the help of smartphones/tablets.

Jio is also planning to launch a complete suite for home surveillance, which will comprise smart camera, smart doorbell, smart lock and chime alarm. All of these products can be managed from user’s mobile devices.

“With fibre to the home, the telco will focus on automating entire home from entertainment to home surveillance," the source said.

Reliance Jio: reliance jio asks foxconn, chinese odm partners to make volte smartphones, other products in india, Telecom News, ET Telecom

 

[Bapun]

What one can do with LTE & 4G on a feature phone? Seriously, you kidding me Jio! [emoji14]

 

[Siva]

What one can do with LTE & 4G on a feature phone? Seriously, you kidding me Jio! [emoji14]

It's to expand their market bro. Right now they are limited to 4G phones which is low in number. With this move, they can attract more consumers.

 

[Bapun]

But bro at same price one can get smartphone too! Take example of freedom251 or namo phone! [GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

 

[Siva]

But bro at same price one can get smartphone too! Take example of freedom251 or namo phone! [GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

Lol, those are scam. That too they don't feature 4G VOLTE.

 

[Bapun]

It was a joke bro!

Anyways cheaper VoLTE without any usability makes no sense to me.