09/08/2017
After the launch of the Jio Phone, the market is expected to see an explosion of 4G VoLTE feature phones, with many brands expected to join the fray. While Lava with its 4G Connect M1, and Micromax's Bharat 1 were the 4G feature phones to be announced before the Jio Phone was unveiled at the Reliance AGM, Intex launched its Turbo+ 4G after the event. However, none of the aforementioned phones have hit the market yet, and even the Jio Phone bookings will start on August 24 only, while the beta trials start on August 15. Even Idea Cellular has revealed plans to launch a 4G feature phone of its own, with support for WhatsApp, Facebook, and other apps.
This is just the beginning though, as many more manufacturers are gearing up to launch 4G feature phones, as Spreadtrum has revealed it is in talks with 4-5 brands to launch Jio Phone rivals powered by its chip. Spreadtrum is one of the companies whose chips are used in the new Reliance Jio handset. The single-SIM Jio Phone works only on 4G VoLTE networks, and Jio has the only such network in the country at the moment, meaning the handset is exclusive to the company's own network.
