Jio and Google Have Unveiled a New Smartphone

Mukesh's JioPhone Next

Jio, one of India’s premier tech companies has unveiled JioPhone Next, a 4G smartphone it partnered Google to build. This is the latest strategy by both companies to reinforce their position in the thriving Indian tech industry.

Jio Owner, Mukesh Ambani said the device will be an “ultra-affordable smartphone”. And that it’ll operate on an exclusive Android-based OS. He further explained that the idea was to help 300 million Indian users migrate from 2G to 4G.

However, he withheld most of the details on the smartphone’s specs. And only added that it will come with a powerful camera and a voice assistant feature.

Meanwhile, Google CEO, Sundar Pichai endorsed Jio’s smartphone project. He stated that the aim was to “support businesses in their digital transformation”.

JioPhone Next will be officially out-doored in India on September 10.

Jio Has Been In the News Lately

Further, Jio and its parent company Reliance have been in the news recently for a number of reasons.

Jio Platforms, Image Credits: AtulHost

Last year, the company made headlines for securing billions of dollars in investment from US tech giants Google and Facebook.

The same year, Jio sparked controversy for launching a Zoom clone named JioMeet.

Google and Jio’s Smartphone Vs Apple and Samsung

Right now, the one question that keeps coming up is whether Jio will survive in the smartphone industry. Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy Series have already dominated this market. So much that, at times, even Google’s own Pixel is sidelined. Already, the likes of South Korean giant LG have succumbed to the pressure and bowed out of the competition.

Moreover, JioPhone Next is only 4G-capable. In a time when 5G is the new normal, a 4G smartphone may not exactly be a ground-breaking new entry.

All the same, Google and Jio’s partnership is set to create many new and exciting opportunities. Already, Google has lent its Cloud platform to Jio, as part of the partnership. Therefore, Jio’s new smartphone might be only the first item on a long list of interesting projects.