Google and Jio Unveil Budget Phone for Booming India Market
- Runs custom Android OS designed to perform with frugal specs
- Handset will have to compete with incumbent Chinese leaders
Advertisements for Jio Platforms Ltd., at a store in Mumbai.
Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/BloombergBillionaire Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries Ltd. unveiled the much-awaited JioPhone Next co-developed with Alphabet Inc.’s Google, a handset designed to target India’s hundreds of millions of first-time smartphone users.
“An ultra-affordable 4G smartphone is essential,” Ambani told shareholders at Reliance’s annual general meeting on Thursday, outlining the capabilities of the device that will run a re-engineered version of the Android operating system. Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai joined remotely to say that the JioPhone was “built for India” and would deliver translation features, a voice assistant and a great camera.
Neither company leader disclosed a price for the handset, which will debut in the market on Sept. 10, ahead of the country’s peak shopping and gifting season. Both indicated plans to achieve a breakthrough price.