Reliance is working with Google to launch 5g phone

Telecom leader Reliance said on Monday it is working with Alphabet’s Google to launch a budget 5G phone as it laid out a $25 billion plan for introducing the next-generation wireless services within two months.

The greatest 5G network in the world, according to Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, will be launched by Jio in major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai before being spread throughout India by December of next year. The billionaire entrepreneur said that Jio has “planned an ambitious 5G roll-out strategy” and added that the phone they were working on with Google will be “ultra-affordable.”

5G data speeds in India are expected to be about 10 times faster than those of 4G, with the network seen as vital for emerging technologies like self-driving cars and artificial intelligence. Reliance’s 5G plans throw down the gauntlet to rivals Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Idea in the world’s second-biggest mobile market.

Jio, the largest mobile network in India with more than 420 million subscribers, purchased airwaves worth $11 billion earlier this month in a $19 billion 5G spectrum auction.

When Jio debuted affordable 4G data plans and free voice services in 2016, followed by a 4G smartphone priced at only $81 (again in cooperation with Google), the ambitious 5G approach built on Jio’s playbook of upending India’s telecommunications business prompted a price war. In order to offer cloud-based 5G network solutions for companies, Reliance announced partnerships with Qualcomm Inc. and Meta Platform Inc. for JioMart’s integration with WhatsApp for online purchasing. Also, a move into private 5G networks was revealed.

Confirmed: Reliance will bring an ‘ultra-affordable’ smartphone with Google

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However, as of my knowledge cutoff date, there were reports that Reliance Industries, an Indian conglomerate, was in talks with Google to develop an affordable smartphone aimed at capturing a larger share of the Indian mobile market. The reports suggested that the smartphone could be priced as low as $30-$40, and could come with pre-loaded Google apps and services. However, I cannot confirm if this information is accurate or if any official announcement has been made regarding the release of this smartphone.

Reliance Jio working with Google on ‘ultra affordable’ 5G smartphone: Ambani

As of my latest update on September 2021, Reliance Industries and Google were reportedly in talks to develop an affordable smartphone. However, since then, there have been new reports suggesting that Reliance Jio, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, is indeed working with Google to develop an “ultra-affordable” 5G smartphone. The announcement was made by Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, at the company’s annual general meeting in June 2021.

According to Ambani, the smartphone will be powered by an optimized version of the Android operating system, and it will feature a large touchscreen display, a camera system, and other essential features. The company aims to make this smartphone available at a price point of around $70 to $100, making it one of the most affordable 5G smartphones on the market.

It’s worth noting that there have been no updates since then, and it is unclear when the smartphone will be launched or what its exact specifications will be.

Reliance Jio’s chairman Mukesh Ambani said the company is working with Google to introduce ultra-affordable 5G phones

Yes, that’s correct. In June 2021, at Reliance Industries’ annual general meeting, Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Industries, announced that Reliance Jio, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, is working with Google to develop an “ultra-affordable” 5G smartphone. The phone is expected to be powered by an optimized version of the Android operating system and will come with a large touchscreen display, a camera system, and other essential features.

The aim is to launch this smartphone at a price point of around $70 to $100, making it one of the most affordable 5G smartphones available. However, there have been no updates since the initial announcement, and it is unclear when the phone will be launched or what its exact specifications will be.

India’s telecom leader Reliance said on Monday it is working with Alphabet Inc’s Google to launch a budget 5G smartphone as it laid out a $25 billion plan for introducing the next-generation wireless services within two months.

At the company’s annual general meeting, Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani said Jio’s 5G network would be the world’s largest, launching in main cities including New Delhi and Mumbai before being expanded across India by December next year.

Ambani, one of India’s richest men, said only that the phone being developed with Google would be “ultra-affordable”. The cheapest 5G phones retail for around $150 currently in India, where around 700 million people don’t have a smartphone.

“To take the 5G mass market, a sub-$100 phone is imperative and Jio is rightly positioned to bring 5G to the masses,” said Neil Shah, vice president of research at Counterpoint.

5G data speeds in India are expected to be about 10 times faster than those of 4G, with the network seen as vital for emerging technologies like self-driving cars and artificial intelligence.

Reliance’s 5G plans throw down the gauntlet to rivals Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Idea in the world’s second-biggest mobile market. Shares in Airtel and Vodafone closed down 1.3% and 3.3% respectively in a weak Mumbai market where Reliance also slipped 0.78%.