India's Reliance Jio Infocomm has disrupted the mobile market once again with the launch of a “free” 4G handset named the JioPhone.
The operator is offering the JioPhone for a security deposit of 1,500 rupees ($23.29), fully refundable after three years.
The handset is being produced in India. It will be offered under a plan worth 153 rupees per month for free voice calls and SMS as well as unlimited data with a daily fair use cap of 500MB.
The device has a keypad and a 2.4-inch, 240x320 display. It supports Bluetooth, NFC payment and access to Jo services including JioTV and JioMovies, and has a rear camera, SD card slot and headphone jack.
An additional data plan worth 309 rupees per month will allow mirroring of the phone screen to any TV to support streaming services at home.
Announcing the handset, Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani said around two thirds of India's mobile users do not have smartphones, leaving them unable to access Jio's 4G-only network and leaving Jio unable to attract these customers. The Jio Phone is intended to help the company reach this audience.
Preorders of the Jio phone will commence next month. The introduction of the device will only increase the intense competition in India's mobile market triggered by Jio's explosive entry onto the scene with its pan-India 4G network.