Ambani's Jio Unveils $12 4G Phone With Digital Pay and Streaming

Reliance's digital arm, Jio Platforms, has unveiled a new mobile handset and associated tariff plans, the latest in a series of years-long efforts from the top Indian telecom operator as it vies to convert users who remain "trapped" in the country's legacy 2G networks. From a report: Named 'Jio Bharat,' the handset from Jio Platforms is 4G-enabled and offers a suite of modern features including mobile payments capabilities with UPI, and access to Jio's own on-demand video and music streaming services, JioCinema and JioSaavn. The company said it will manufacture the Jio Bharat and also partner with other phonemakers to adopt the Jio Bharat Platform to build the handsets. The Delhi-headquartered Karbonn has signed up to the platform, said the billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led firm in a statement. The Jio Bharat is priced at 999 Indian rupees, or $12.2, Reliance said.

Re:

[boudie2]

What is the market penetration of slashdot in India? It must be tens or hundreds of people already.

Re:

[Codeyman]

Wow.. racist much! Me and my group of friends have been using it since 2003-4..

Indian subs on reddit were always there.. Reddit's algorithm might be showing them more to og OP.

Digitalpay is easy in India

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

All you need is a simple QR code scanner and a browser app.

Govt of India considers digital payment infrastructure a basic utility and provides it free of charge to both payer and payee. Govt provides the transaction infrastructure, private companies like GooglePay or RuPay build the apps for their users.

The lobbying by the duopoly of Mastercard and Visa is the biggest stumbling block in USA to implement such simple utility. Sameway Quicken is blocking a free tax filing app from IRS for simple one W2 in

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[tlhIngan]

The lobbying by the duopoly of Mastercard and Visa is the biggest stumbling block in USA to implement such simple utility.

I would think there are other barriers in the way. I mean, if it was "just" MasterCard and Visa, that would be simple. But think of how you'd convince all Americans to have say, a standard universal government ID card, and then try to convince them that every electronic payment must use a standard government framework. You can also bet India is doing it for more than just making it easy

Details:

[Gravis Zero]

Just the known specs:
* Name: Jio Bharat
* Display: 1.77-inch
* Keypad: T9-style
* Camera (on back): 0.3MP (640x480)
* LED camera flash
* FM radio
* Micro SD slot
* 3.5mm headphone jack

you can read for yourself: https://www.mysmartprice.com/g... [mysmartprice.com]

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[backslashdot]

Sounds like a Nokia 105, except 3 dollars cheaper and with a camera.

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[140Mandak262Jamuna]

Camera is essential to support India's unified payment infrastructure to handle micro payments. I have used a Nokia candibar priced at 1000 Rs back then. It was surprisingly powerful. Very loud volume, black and white screen, battery lasted for days, it had snake, it had strange astrology apps built in. Auspicious time to get married.. What days of the week are good for travel in what direction.. When Yama is ruling the clock, (dont buy anything at that time), when to fast, when to break fast ... all in the

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[backslashdot]

I'm surprised that this style of phone is still cheaper to make than say a 3.5 inch touchscreen phone. I think it's a good deal though.

Is it tethered?

[timeOday]

If this is tethered to a contract or specific provider, then the stated price is seemingly arbitrary.

But if not, and they can really turn a profit selling a phone for $12, it's pretty amazing.

Re:Is it tethered?

[DDumitru]

The "plan" is 12 GB of data and unlimited calls for 123 Rupees/mo ($1.50/mo).

Re:

[nikkipolya]

$1.5/mo !? Is the company big time into social service? Or is it a cash burning startup disguised as a "cloud based generative AI powered social media advertising run eGrocery backed food ordering monopoly"?

Kinda

[Jarik C-Bol]

I know it’s essentially a 2004 era dumb phone, but it still makes a person feel like a stupid asshole for paying $1200 for a smartphone.

headphone jack and SD card

[BeaverCleaver]

It has a headphone jack and "expandable storage" (presumably an SD card." So it has more features than many smartphones :-)

Seriously though, if this thing can share its 4G connection (even if only by wired connection) I'll probably buy one.