JioPhone production stopped, Jio now working on free Android Phone.
Mukesh Ambani caused a storm after announcing the JioPhone smart feature phone that was effectively free of cost. Millions of people have already pre-ordered the phone with shipments having started post Diwali. However, based on a new report, production of the JioPhone has stopped as Reliance Jio is now looking to work on an Android smartphone to take on Airtel and Vodafone.
Update: In a statement to India Today Tech, a Jio spokesperson did not categorically deny the report, but said that the company would soon announce the next JioPhone booking date. "JioPhone, 'India ka smartphone' is committed to fulfilling the country's digital vision. Jio welcomes the initial 6 million Indians who are moving to digital life with the JioPhone and will soon announce the next JioPhone booking date," the spokesperson said.
Sources close to FactorDaily reported that production of JioPhone has stopped as the telcos is now focusing on bringing out an Android-based phone. To recall, the JioPhone runs on KaiOS, which is a version of Firefox OS. The latest report cites lack of apps supported by KaiOS as a reason behind Jio switching over to Android. The JioPhone as of now does not support apps for Facebook and WhatsApp, among others.
"There are not enough apps compatible with KaiOS but people are working on developing special versions for the JioPhone," a company insider told FactorDaily. Jio has reportedly been in talks with Facebook and Google to bring versions of Facebook, WhatsApp and YouTube apps to the JioPhone.
What this means for the JioPhone
The latest report, however, doesn't answer whether Jio has met with the over 6 million pre-bookings of the JioPhone since announcement. The company had stopped taking pre-orders in August citing an overwhelming response. It promised that shipping of the pre-ordered JioPhones would begin post Diwali, and it is still unclear as to how many people have received their handsets.
The latest report, however, doesn't answer whether Jio has met with the over 6 million pre-bookings of the JioPhone since announcement. The company had stopped taking pre-orders in August citing an overwhelming response. It promised that shipping of the pre-ordered JioPhones would begin post Diwali, and it is still unclear as to how many people have received their handsets.
Reliance Jio chairman in July said that the company has set a target of producing 5 million JioPhones every week, but with productions having halted now, that promise seems to have fallen flat. "It's not that the target is changing...but a walled garden approach doesn't work in mobile phones, it hasn't worked in the past and it will not work in the future," another source told Factor Daily