Idea raises concerns on JIO Phone over net neutrality, planning to launch its own cheap feature phone

Its over a week since the telecom giant JIO has announced its ambitious 4G feature phone the 'JIO phone'. The phone looks pretty good for the masses when looked at the bundle of offerings one gets with it. The customers get free voice calls to any network, a TV cable developed in house which will allow users to connect with normal television sets to watch the content on large screen and not to mention preloaded JIO apps to watch content, get news and do more on their affordable feature handset. And no this is not a dream shown by a con company like Ringing Bells. 

JIO Phone

One might think what could be wrong with someone being generous to help push the Digital India dream to next set of users which are forgotten even by the government, however competitors pay close attention to your moves in a game play. Its like the government and opposition where both groups work on their own agenda while also playing the role of watchdog to bring wrong doings of each other. In similar circumstances Idea is the first one to find and raise the anomalies behind the scheme.

The issue raised by Idea is very genuine and serious. The JIO phone booking starts from 24th August and offers the customers its own apps and may be some other apps with which company might tie up, but also deprive the users to have basic apps which are prevalent in market and force their own version of apps instead. The story is very similar to that of Facebook's internet.org. Facebook's mission to provide selective internet for free to users which had caused a massive outrage against the company and led TRAI to set out norms for the same.

Idea on other hand is planning on something slightly expensive offering but it will allow users the choice of operator, apps, browser etc. Its not only Idea that has raised the flag over JIO phone , Deutsche Bank and Kotak bank also expressed their concerns saying that the offering might well be breaching net neutrality principles.

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Reliance JIO Free Offer extended till 15 April, Summer Surprise offer for prime members on recharge of 303 or above

When every thought that they might be using the JIO freebies for the last time today, Mr. Mukesh Ambani yet again made it official that the offer is extended for last time. This time the offer is extended for 15 another days, i.e. you can enjoy the existing offer till 15th April, 2017. Along with that the members who have opted for prime membership will be entitled to first Surprise of many surprises to come. As 'Summer Surprise' Offer, prime members who recharge for Rs 303/- or more will get services for the initial 3 months on complimentary basis. That means you get Unlimited Data (28 GB at 4G speed, with 1 GB FUP per day) for 3 months with recharge of Rs 303/-.

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The letter from Mr. Ambani also states that over 72 million people have already enrolled for prime membership and they are still counting. As per the letter this 15 days window is to ensure smoother transition from free to paid services. The official letter reads:

"Jio’s free service period is COMING TO AN END. Users who do not recharge by the extended date of 15th April will experience degradation and/or discontinuation of services.

But, I am conscious that this is the largest migration from free to paid services in history.We are committed to doing this gradually, so that both Jio and Jio customers have the time to adjust, fine tune and perfect this transition."

The letter from JIO MD also touched upon the investment and efforts organization is putting into getting infrastructure ready for seamless experience for customers.Below is the text from the letter.

"Jio has created the world’s largest greenfield 4G LTE wireless broadband network, with over 100,000 mobile towers. And we will add another 100,000 towers to our network in the coming months. This greenfield investment – of over Rs 200,000 crores – is the largest anywhere in the world. We are acutely aware that we have small pockets of congestion on our network. With our investment in network expansion, you will see a dramatic improvement in service quality in the coming weeks.

Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows consumers to retain their existing mobile number when they switch to Jio, is available for all consumers. Lakhs of consumers have already used this facility. If you have not done so already, I invite you to do MNP and make Jio your permanent home. For International travellers, Jio’s International roaming is now available across the world, with best voice and data rates in industry."

The zest of today's letter is that JIO is in no mood to leave any stone un-turned to gain maximum market share in Industry. The dynamics have changed a lot since JIO's entry in market as rival companies are offering a great deal on data and voice plans to compete with JIO. Vodafone's merger with Idea also brings interesting twist in the tale. We must say its all good for the consumers and the best time after initial Reliance CDMA entry which ended charges on incoming calls.

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Reliance launches JIO digital services officially, All you need to know

Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (“Jio”) today announced the launch of its digital services with Jio Welcome Offer which will be effective from 5 September, 2016. As part of the Jio Welcome Offer, users will have access to unlimited LTE data and national voice, video and messaging services along with the full bouquet of Jio applications  and content, free of cost up to 31 December 2016. The Company today filed its tariff plans  with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (“TRAI”).

10 Tariff Plans from JIO

The announcement was made by the Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh D. Ambani, at the Annual General Meeting of RIL today. Mr. Ambani emphasised the benefits of digitalisation and said in his speech that Jio is dedicated to realising the Prime Minister’s inspiring vision of “Digital India” for 1.2 billion Indians.Shri Ambani also announced that domestic voice calls to any network across the country would be free for Jio subscribers even beyond the Jio Welcome Offer. Domestic roaming services would also not be charged separately. Average data prices would be around Rs. 50/ GB, which would be amongst the lowest in the world.

Jio is rolling out a state-of-the-art pan India digital services business. In addition to fixed and wireless broadband connectivity offering superior voice and data services on an all-IP network, Jio will also offer end-to-end solutions that address the entire value chain across various digital services in key domains such as education, healthcare, security, communication, financial services, government-citizen interfaces and entertainment.

Shri Ambani spoke about the five fundamental pillars of the Jio ecosystem: (i) The best quality

broadband network with the highest capacity; (ii) A world of affordable, cutting-edge devices;

(iii) Compelling applications and content; (iv) Superior digital service experiences; and

(v) Affordable and simple tariffs.

Shri Ambani also said that the key brand values for Jio included affordable, high quality and abundant data; connected intelligence; smart, simple and secure services; and bringing people together. Shri Ambani also announced that Reliance Retail Ltd has introduced a line-up of superaffordable 4G LTE smartphones under the LYF brand, starting at Rs. 2,999. More feature-rich models will be available at progressively higher price-points like Rs. 3999, Rs. 4999 and so on.

Jio announced the setting-up of the Jio Digital India Start-up Fund. Jio will work on creating Jio Digital Entrepreneurship Hubs in key cities and towns of India. The Jio Digital India Startup Fund has set aside Rs. 5,000 crores to be invested over the next 5 years. Jio Welcome Offer The Jio Welcome Offer provides an opportunity to every Indian to learn, try, customise and experience high quality digital services, without paying for the services up to 31 December, 2016 after which the applicable tariffs will apply. The Company also proposes to use this time period to fine-tune its services as well as for resolution of interconnection and MNP related issues that it has faced with several other operators. Jio may extend the period of free services in case Jio subscribers are not able to get adequate experience of seamless connectivity across network due to POI congestion and MNP restrictions and the quality of service parameters are not as per the benchmarks desired by RJIL management. The other terms and conditions of these special benefits under the Jio Welcome Offer have been filed by the Company to TRAI as well as provided on its website ‘jio.com’.

The existing test users of the Company, who have enrolled for the Jio Preview Offer, will be transitioned to the Jio Welcome Offer under the terms thereof. Tariff Plans The Company filed its detailed tariff plans with TRAI today. Shri Ambani enumerated the following principles used for formulating the tariff plans:

i) Benefits of technology would be passed onto customers. All domestic voice calls for Jio

customers will be absolutely free, across India and at any time. Domestic roaming

charges will not apply in Jio tariffs.

ii) Data tariffs have been made highly affordable, with full transparency, without any

associated conditions. The Company is offering the lowest LTE data rates in the world.

Additionally it would offer unlimited night time LTE data.

iii) The Jio-Apps bouquet, which is worth Rs. 15,000 for an annual subscription, will be

available complimentary for all active Jio customers up to 31 December 2017. This has

been done to make Digital Life available to everyone.

iv) A special student discount offer, with 25% more data on the main tariff plans, would be

offered to all students.

v) Jio has introduced a simple tariff structure with only 10 main plans, designed to fit every

budget, as against the 22,000 tariff plans prevailing in the country today. These are

summarised here:

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