Reliance Geo is now preparing to bring cheap 4g smartphones in partnership with Google. The company has also dealt with some handset makers. Geo’s koshis is that it connects its 35 crore phone users to its network.
There is going to be a stiff bump between telecom companies for 35 crore feature phone users. Reliance Geo is going to finalize its deal with Chinese handset maker for subsidized SIM locked smartphones. These smartphones of Reliance Geo will come with 4g data, voice and own content service. People knowledgeable in the case said that the company has tiup with China’s iTel brand and smartphones worth Rs 3-4 thousand will be launched.
Phones to be divied under Jio-Google partnership
New affordable smartphones will be developed under geo-Google partnership. Geo’s target from this partnership is to connect 35 crore feature phone users to its network. Most of the users are from Geo’s rival company Airtel and Vodafone.
Also Read: Webinar to be held on September 18 on Kharif Crop Outlook
Airtel gearing up to bring cheap 4G smartphones
According to an ET report, Airtel is also in talks with some handset makers about subsidized SIM-locked smartphones worth Rs 2-2.5 thousand. Airtel is currently the second largest telecom company in the country. Out of 28 crore user base of Ayretal, about 10.8 crore 2G/2G 3G users. Vodafone-Idea goes as far as it’s 2G/2G. The number of 3G users is 13.8 crore. According to industry experts, Vodafone will also need a similar partnership to avoid Airtel and Geo.
Part of Jio’s 2G Free India Project
“While iTel has a partnership, Geo is also trying to partner with Indian handsets brands for cheap 4G smartphones on the other hand,” an Indian brand executive told ET on the condition of not naming the names. It is part of Jio’s 2G free India project. Geo and iTel have not answered ET’s questions about it.
Initially ordered for 10 million handsets
Another Indian handset brand top executive said that Geo has started talks with Indian handsets players and global contract manufacturers for cheap 4g smartphones. The company can launch these devices with geo brand and Google’s partnership. Sources said, Geo is planning to order 1 crore smartphones initially.
