The Jio Phone[1] is going to cost you much more than you had previously anticipated. As Reliance Jio begins shipping the Jio Phone handset to over six million customers in India[2], the company has updated its website to share for the first time the terms and conditions it would be imposing on users of the feature phone.
At the launch of Jio Phone, Mukesh Ambani, the managing director of Reliance Industries Limited, said the Jio Phone would be effectively free to customers[3], as the Rs. 1,500 they are paying to Reliance Jio would be refundable after 3 years[4]. But what was not disclosed at the event was that the Jio Phone requires customers to make recharges worth at least Rs. 1,500 every year for the period of 3 years to remain functional, the company states[5] on the website.
The company has also disclosed customers will need to pay up to Rs. 1,500 if they wish to return the Jio Phone within 3 years of purchase.
'Mandatory' recharges
"The JioPhone is available for continued use on the Recipient purchasing telecom recharge vouchers of an Authorised Carrier (presently Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited) from the Company or any of its authorised retailers for use in the Jio Phone of a minimum value of Rs. 1,500/- per annum for a period of 3 years from the date of the first issue of the JioPhone," the terms of condition reads.
Taking this into consideration, you would be spending more than Rs. 4,500 on the Jio Phone over the next 3 years, provided the company refunds you the full Rs. 1,500 amount that you are required to pay as 'deposit' in order to get...