JioPhone Might Not Support Hotspot to Connect With Mobiles

The upcoming feature phone from Reliance Jio could be missing a crucial feature.

Reports suggest JioPhone might not support Wi-Fi hotspot. 

(Photo: The Quint)

Everyone is eager to pre-book and get their hands on the recently announced JioPhone from Reliance Jio. JioPhone is a feature phone that supports 4G VoLTE, which will effectively cost you nothing to buy.

But before you get all excited about this device and register for it, you need to know about an important feature which seems to be missing from the JioPhone. According to sources, JioPhone does not let you tether the internet to other devices via Hotspot.

Multiple reports seem to suggest the same, and if that is the case, then a lot of consumers might not actually go for a device that’s offering a mere 500MB/per day with its Rs 153 plan.

Also Read: Reliance Jio 4G JioPhone: How to ‘Register Your Interest’ Today

It remains to be seen if the hotspot feature has not been provided by the chipset provider (in this case, Qualcomm and Spreadtrum), or else, we’re looking at a software-locking from Jio’s end.

Experts have already stated that with JioPhone, Reliance is targeting consumers who aren’t too keen on data, but would love to enjoy the benefits of free voice calls. In that case, the phone missing out on Wi-Fi hotspot might not be a deal breaker for entry-level users after all.

Also Read: Reliance JioPhone Could Hit Airtel & Vodafone With Free Calls

Having said that, existing Jio consumers will lose the appeal for the device, especially when you consider that it comes with a 2.4-inch display, when an average Indian user now prefers to have a 5-inch sized phone or more.

This is a big punt on Jio’s part, but it could also be a masterstroke from the telecom operator in order to keep its Wi-Fi hotspot device relevant in the market.

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