Published On : Fri, Jul 21st, 2017

Zero: Cost of Ambani’s new Jio Phone

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Mumbai: Reliance Industries Limited Chairman Mukesh Ambani announces the launch of the ‘intelligent feature phone, Jio Phone, at the company’s 40th AGM to loud cheers by shareholders.The Jio Phone allows free voice, SMS, data at just Rs 153 per month, while a the Jio TV cable which allows you to watch three to four hours of videos per day, costs Rs 309 per month. The effective cost of the phone is zero.

This comes roughly a year after the 2016 Reliance AGM, where Ambani announced the public launch of the Reliance Jio telecom network. The Jio Phone supports 22 Indian languages. The phone was launched on stage by Mukesh Ambani’s children, Isha and Aakash Ambani. His other son, Ananth was in the audience, seated next to his grandmother Kokilaben.

Kokilaben broke down briefly when Mukesh Ambani dedicated the achievements of the company to its founder, Dhirubhai Ambani. Several references to PM Narendra Modi during the AGM.

Ambani said Jio phone will be the “most intelligent, affordable phone” in
the world — a 4G LTE phone supporting all 24 Indian languages. Ambani says Jio committed to ending “digital disempowerment and unfairness” by providing affordable data and devices.

India has overtaken US and China in mobile data usage, says Mukesh Ambani on his telecom venture Jio. In just 6 months of Jio launch, data consumption in India went to 120 cr GB a month, from 20 cr GB. Jio has 125 million customers today, added 7 customers per second every single day.

Security deposit of Rs 1500 for Jio Phone:

The ‘zero cost’ Jio Phone has a fully refundable security deposit of Rs 1500. The customer can claim the refund after three years by returning the Jio Phone. Ambani says this will prevent misuse.

Kokilaben Ambani breaks down, briefly, when Mukesh Ambani dedicates the growth of Reliance Industries to his father, Dhirubhai Ambani.