Reliance Jio will soon launch 4G VoLTE smartphone in India priced around just $15

Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, a subsidiary of India’s largest private sector conglomerate — Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), will soon launch 4G VoLTE phones with unlimited voice and video calling.

After disrupting the telecom market in the country with India’s first 4G-only legacy-free, next-generation voice and broadband network with Jio, the company aims to win over customers from the large volume of rural and Tier III markets currently served by 2G/3G feature phones, and first time data users with these budget devices.

According to The Economic Times, the company is developing two feature phones priced at about ₹1000 ($15) and ₹1500 ($22) that are likely to be launched during January-March next year. Jio is working with domestic handset maker, LAVA International, and another Chinese OEM. The devices will function just like smartphones (powered by Spreadtrum processor) with data and calling capability — the only thing missing will be the touchscreen. Of course, these devices expectedly will have Jio suite of services bundled in.

Reliance has launched several Android smartphones under its LYF brand since last year. From budget to mid-range, the current range of LYF devices are priced between ₹2,999 and ₹19,999.

Transsion, the Chinese company that sells feature phones under the Itel brand, also plans to introduce 4G feature phones in India next month, and according to the company, the platform for this technology is being actively developed and tested in China already.