At the time when the world is moving towards smartphone adoption and when the tech pundits are busy debating the benefits of Android OS over iOS and vice-versa, India’s largest 4G VoLTE operator- Reliance Jio is planning to launch feature phone supporting VoLTE facility in the country soon.
It is worth noting that the Feature phones had a 56% market share in terms of units shipped in the quarter ending June 2016. This is the main reason why local players like Micromax and Intex are not planning to give up on the Feature phones segment anytime soon.
According to Gizbot, Jio will launch its VoLTE Feature phones by either the end of the year or Q1 2017.
Just like the home-grown smartphone brands, Reliance Jio understands that a large portion of the country’s population is still using the good-old reliable Feature phones. Feature phones are still sold like hot cakes in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, and in the rural areas.
There are many who don’t wish to switch to the smartphones for the lack of great battery backup, durability, and many more. Here we are talking about those who use voice calling as their primary means of communication and they contribute to more than 50% of the mobile phone users in India.
By launching VoLTE-supported Feature phones Reliance Jio would not only be able to capture this market, but will also uplift it to the 4G technology. This in turn would improve its bottom-line by convincing these users to opt for Jio for the lucrative benefit of unlimited voice calling throughout the country.
With the launch of these VoLTE-enabled Feature phones, Jio would usher in a new era of smarter Feature phones. It is worth noting that VoLTE is a software feature that enables the users to make voice calls over an LTE network. As per the sources, Reliance Jio’s VoLTE feature phone will run on Spreadtrum 9820 SoC.
Now that the mobile phone users have a reason to switch to Jio’s VoLTE-enabled Feature phones, it is worth pondering over whether they will make the switch? Jio gave unlimited internet and free subscription to its premium apps with ‘Jio Welcome Offer’ to the smartphone users, but what kind of ‘Welcome Offer’ if any, will the Feature phone users get? Unlimited voices calls for 90 days, perhaps? Let’s wait and watch.
India will never leave Feature Phones of which I am an example. For talking and Banking, it is pleasure to use a Feature Phone than Android.
Great-great job by Jio by thinking featured phone. Jio also think about Vehicle tracking system.