JioPhone Next available from Diwali at Rs 1,999, easy EMI

Jio and Google on Friday announced that the much-anticipated JioPhone Next, the made-for-India smartphone jointly designed by the two companies, will be available in stores from Diwali, that is November 4, adding to the festive cheer in the country.

The companies claimed that it would be the most affordable smartphone anywhere in the world with an entry price of only Rs 1,999 and the rest paid via easy EMI over 18 or 24 months. Also read | Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar dies of heart attack at 46 A unique financing option like this is being introduced for the first time for a device in this category, making it accessible for a much wider set of consumers. With features that are unprecedented in any phone in this category, JioPhone Next will be available across the country at Reliance Retail's extensive network of JioMart Digital retail locations. Mukesh Ambani, chairman and MD, Reliance Industries, said, "I am delighted that Google and Jio teams have succeeded in bringing this breakthrough device to Indian consumers in time for the festival season, in spite of the current global supply chain challenges caused by the Covid pandemic. I have always been a firm believer in the power of digital revolution to enrich, enable and empower the lives of 1.35 billion Indians. We have done it in the past with connectivity. Now we are enabling it again with a smartphone device." Also read | Facebook changes its name to ‘Meta’ in rebranding exercise "Among many rich features of JioPhone Next, the one that has impressed me the most -- and one that will empower common Indians the most and take their digital journeys to the next level -- is its contribution to India's linguistic integration. India's unique strength is our linguistic diversity. Those Indians who might not be able to read content in English or in their language can get it translated, and even read out, in their own language on this smart device. It makes me proud to say that we are bridging the gap between 'India' and 'Bharat, because 'BHARAT' Karega Digital Pragati - PRAGATI OS Ke Saath'," he added. Commenting on this milestone, Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google and Alphabet, said, "The JioPhone Next is an affordable smartphone designed for India, inspired by the belief that everyone in India should benefit from the opportunities the internet creates. To build it, our teams had to work together to solve complex engineering and design challenges, and I'm excited to see how millions of people will use these devices to better their lives and communities." -PTC News