Reliance Jio appears to be dreaming big with the JioPhone. The company has opened a separate registration for the 4G enabled feature phone for people who run businesses. Interested buyers can access the registration form from Jio’s official website. But it is really interesting to wonder why would businesses want a feature phone when most of them already use a smartphone. With India exceedingly becoming a digital economy, most of the enterprises in the country have gone for latest technologies like the credit card or QR readers to digital logbooks and more. But such applications and features are available only on smartphones. So, the question arises, will a feature phone (even with 4G internet) be able to support such apps? If not, why will companies, especially big e-commerce portals use it for delivery when their executives already user a big smartphone, even if they are not expensive.
Since Reliance has decided to go for a separate JioPhone registration for businesses, we can soon expect more apps in the device. One of the most important factors companies or enterprises require in a phone is the usability for making calls and make monetary transactions. With a PayTm like feature, Jio Phone will bring on the JioMoney app. This will give a major boost, not only to the phone but also the app. PM Narendra Modi had demonetised high valued currency in India last year, with one of the aims being making the country a cashless economy. While many people started using apps like PayTm and others, low rung customers still hesitate to use it. The hesitation may be either because of low internet speeds or lack of a smartphone. Since Reliance is targeting the low-end market, we can expect the phone to have a good ‘Money’ app and if it becomes a success, the company will get a huge boost in this segment.
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Other than the above, Jio Phone could also serve as a landline phone at many small offices. Enterprises may go for the device, just because of its free voice calling feature and portability. Additionally, there are many small shop owners (like recharge shops) who still use feature phones. They might want to get the phone in order to use apps which can make their lives a lot easier. However, there is too little information on why Reliance Jio decided to target business owners with a feature phone, which makes it difficult for us to gauge the popularity it might achieve after launch. We can only talk about more specifications, one the company decides to reveal its plans with the JioPhone, especially its use in businesses.
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Meanwhile, if you are currently interested, you can go to the company’s website and click on the ‘Keep Me Posted’ tab. Now, before going for the ‘Register Interest’ option, you will have to select the Business section in the form. In the form, you will have to fill out details like Your name, your company’s name, PAN no or GSTN number, and more. On the web page, you will also have to fill the number of devices required.
Also read | Jio Phone booking: Fill this form if you want Reliance 4G handset for business purposes
The JioPhone will be available for beta testing for users from August 15 and the pre-booking will begin from August 24. The 4G mobile will start being physically available for people who have pre-booked, on a first come first serve basis, from September.
