Welcome back to our weekly roundup of all the news that you can use from the world of tech. First up, the long-awaited Jio feature phone[1] was finally revealed on Friday by Reliance Jio[2]. Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani introduced it as "India ka smartphone", but the phone's being sold under the name Jio Phone[3]. Announced at the Reliance annual general meeting[4] on Friday, the phone will only go on sale in September. Speaking at the AGM, Ambani said that the three tenets of affordable data, wider connectivity, and affordable devices will help bridge the digital divide in India, and described the Jio Phone as made in, by, and for Indians.
Although Ambani described the Jio Phone as "effectively" free, there's an upfront cost of Rs. 1,500 involved. This is however fully refundable, but only after three years, and only if you return the handset. Alongside the phone, Ambani also announced a special plan for Jio Phone users, who can get "unlimited" calls and data at Rs 153 a month[5]. There is a daily data cap of 500MB per day, after which you won't get high-speed Internet.
Jio Phone Launch Date, Booking Registration Process, Upfront Price, and Other Questions Answered[6]
Jio Phone users can also pay Rs. 309 for the Dhan Dhana Dhan offer, under which they get access to 1GB per day, for 56 days[7]. That's four times as much data for roughly twice the price, which is much better value. For users who don't want to pay for a full month, there are also two short-term recharges available. You can pay Rs. 24 for unlimited access for a day, or Rs. 54 for a week. The...