Reliance Industries have been planning to launch its much awaited 4G services in the country, under the name of Reliance Jio, but the road seems to have been a little rough. Although there were leaks of a possible soft launch in April this year, nothing concrete really happened.
With so many failed dates and expectations piled up, Reliance Jio is finally coming to select customers through an invite system. According to a report by RTN Asia, the invite-only system will work exactly like that of OnePlus’ process.
The user can get a Jio 4G sim and a LYF smartphone on a trial basis in exchange for the invite. Yes, getting a LYF phone is also mandatory if you want to use the service right now. This is same as what the employees got in the trial phase – an LTE sim and a LYF smartphone for use.
The scheme has been launched in 17 circles in India, including Maharashtra and Goa, Delhi, Telangana, Haryana and Karnataka.
How to get the invite?
The invite-only system seems a little unfair for this kind of a service. Unlike OnePlus, there is no registration process on their website to get hands-on Jio 4G services. Instead, every Reliance Industries employee has an option to invite 10 friends to use the service.
Reliance employees have been using Jio 4G services since December last year and now only they would be able to share the invites to other people. If you know a Reliance Industries employee, it is the perfect opportunity to try out the cheap 4G services in India.
Once you have received the invite, you need to print the mail which has a unique offer code. Carry a valid proof of Address and identification and a passport size photo to a Reliance Digital store. Once they have validated your proofs, you will get the offer on the LYF phone you have purchased.
Offers bundled with the service
Apart from the sim and the LYF Smartphone+, you will get unlimited high speed data, 9000 text messages, 1500 minutes of high definition voice and HD video calling for 90 days from purchase.
Users will also get access to some specific Jio applications and full access to Jiopay, Jiobeats, JioMags and JioDrive. There are also coupons worth Rs 15,000 up for grabs in JioMoney.
The invite is valid upto 15 days from the date it was received and cannot be transferred. International roaming cannot be activated on the sim for the first 90 days of free services either, which makes it is a very rigid offer.
Can it destroy the 4G market?
The Reliance 4G Jio services have been delayed so much that users have shied away from the service. Airtel, Vodafone and Idea are enjoying their own circles and the supremacy before Reliance enters the market full-fledged.
However, looking at the 90 day offers from Reliance, the service looks like a very sweet deal, if the mandatory smartphone is not taken into consideration. The speeds have seen to be decent in some circles and extra-ordinary in most, while the volume of data is also unlimited. There is no mention of post-grace period offers but we expect them to be cheaper than those of existing telcos.
Reliance employees have already started posting Facebook updates to send out the invites to customers. If you don’t know anyone working for Reliance, you might have to wait for the service a little longer, which might prove to be better since getting a LYF Smartphone would not be a necessity.
Source: RTN Asia
When will they launch FIBER??? I’ve said it so many times on trak.in – is anyone LISTENING??!!