Reliance Jio, Google Jointly Working on Low-Cost 4G VoLTE Android Phone: Report

HIGHLIGHTS

• Jio has previously been rumoured to launch 4G VoLTE feature phones
• The low-cost 4G VoLTE smartphone should help penetrate rural regions
• Google will reportedly gain access to new Internet users with the deal
• ·        Reliance Jio has reportedly partnered with search giant Google to develop a low-cost 4G VoLTE smartphone that will work only on the former's telecom network. This comes weeks after reports of Reliance Industries working on a 4G-enabled feature phone hit the rumour mills.
  Reliance Jio-Google's 4G VoLTE phone
  On his visit to India in January this year, Google CEO Sundar Pichai had said that there is a need for $30 (roughly Rs. 2,000) smartphones in the Indian market. In a report on Monday, the Hindu Business Line cites industry sources familiar with the matter to claim the affordable 4G Android phone jointly developed by Google and Reliance Jio will be launched before the end of the year.
  ·         The Google-branding will help Reliance Jio sell the smartphone, the report adds, while also reaching a larger audience. Preloaded Jio apps will also be better integrated with the Android platform, the report claims.
  Elaborating on Google's motivation for the partnership, the report cites Greyhound Research CEO to claim the Mountain View giant would gain access to a "large number of new users who would be connecting to the Internet for the first time," and also be able to properly assess its low-cost smartphone strategy.
  ·         Google also helping Jio with smart TV services
  The report adds that Google and Reliance Jio have separately partnered to develop software for the latter's smart TV services - also due to be launched later this year.
  We've reached out to Google and Reliance Jio to comment on the report, and will update this article once we get a response.
  If true, it remains to be seen how the Google-Reliance Jio partnership ties up with the Mountain View company's Android One plans, which are seemingly on hold for now. To recall, the Android One initiative aimed to put low-cost Google-certified Android smartphones in the hands of users whilst promising features like swift updates.