Reliance AGM highlights: JioPhone 2, Monsoon Hungama and more
Months post the ultra-successful launch of the JioPhone, the company has announced a second version, the JioPhone 2. Reliance's 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) saw many product announcements: the company is launching JioFiber, fiber-to-home broadband; the Jio Gigarouter, where users can watch 600+ channels; and Jio Smart Home Solutions. The JioPhone is also undergoing a makeover: it will soon support YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp.
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The JioPhone 2, basically a high-end model of the JioPhone, will be available from August 15 at Rs. 2,999. The phone comes with a 2.4-inch screen, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage expandable up to 128GB, QWERTY keypad, and 2MP primary camera plus 0.3MP front camera. Powered by the KaiOS and a 2000mAh battery, it will have Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth connectivity options too.
Owners of the JioPhone, rejoice! India's most popular feature phone is undergoing major upgradation. Addressing the AGM, Chairman Mukesh Ambani said YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp will finally be available on the "effectively-free" phone from August 15. If you want a JioPhone 2, you can get it at just Rs. 501 by exchanging your old JioPhone under the Monsoon Hungama offer.
Marking Jio's entry into broadband, Ambani announced the new JioFiber; you can register interest from August 15. Services will start from areas that have registered the maximum interest; others will follow. Under its preview offer, users will get 100GB data monthly for 90 days at 100Mbps. Its rollout, the world's largest, is expected towards 2018 end. Beta trials are currently on.
Under the home front, Jio announced the Giga Router and GigaTV Set Top Box along with Smart Home Solutions. With Smart Home Solutions, you will be able to control the TV, plugs, doorbells and more via the MyJio app. With the Gigarouter, you can watch 600+ channels, play millions of songs, and stream ultra-HD content in 4K. It supports VR and voice commands too.
Jio's revolutionary products have boosted its growth. Ambani said Jio has gained 21.5cr customers within just 22 months of launch, while JioPhone has 2.5cr. Subscribers have been using the Jio network for over 290 minutes daily. Data consumption has nearly doubled from 125cr GB per month to 240cr GB. The network capacity has also doubled in 12 months, but utilization is less than 20%.
Reliance Industries is creating a new "hybrid, online-to-offline new commerce platform," with integration between Reliance Retail and Reliance Jio. The entire ecosystem includes 35cr customer footfalls of Reliance Retail, 21.5cr Jio customers, 5cr JioFiber home customers, and 3cr merchants and shopkeepers, Ambani said.
