Reliance Jio to launch world's cheapest 4G VoLTE-enabled phones

Jio two phones would be launched between January to March next year, priced affordably at Rs 1,000 and 1,500 – making them the world’s cheapest phones with 4G VoLTE compatibility. Reliance Jio is reportedly partnering with Indian phone maker Lava and China’s Transsion which operates under the Itel brand for manufacturing these devices. The VoLTE capabilities in the phones would be added by sourcing chipsets from Spreadtrum, although the company is also in talks with Qualcomm and MediaTek. The report further suggests that Mukesh Ambani-owned Jio would be subsidising the manufacturing cost, as the phones would cost around Rs 2,500 to make. They are likely to be launched between January and March next year. Along with offering fast 4G access, consumers would also be able to use the devices to enjoy unlimited voice and video calls for a lifetime. It must be noted that Reliance Jio is the only telco to support VoLTE calls, though Airtel is also planning to launch this capability soon.