When Jio Phone was launched by Reliance Jio last year, it promised to revolutionize the feature phone market just like the telecom industry. But, one of the key downsides of the phone was the fact that it didn’t let user access some widely used apps including WhatsApp and YouTube. Jio Phone was also late in getting support for Facebook, which only came to the platform six months after the phone was launched.
However, now things are set to change. The company has announced that JioPhone is set to set support for WhatsApp and YouTube starting August 15. Yes, it’s the same day when Jio Phone 2 will hit the shelves.
Directors of Reliance Jio, Akash and Isha Ambani demonstrated how WhatsApp and YouTube will work on Jio Phone and Jio Phone 2 with text or voice command. The versions of the apps are specifically made for made for Jio Phone. But, it is being claimed by the company that WhatsApp and YouTube will work just as they do for Android and iOS.
Users will be able to launch these apps via voice command on Jio Phone. Once the apps are launched, voice commands for typing and sending messages or playing videos have to be given just like Android and iOS devices. It is notable, that according to Akash Ambani, WhatsApp messages can be sent to both Android and iOS devices by Jio Phone and Jio Phone 2. However, there is no clarity if the WhatsApp or YouTube apps for JioPhone will have all the features as their Android and iOS versions.
Speaking about the launch, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said, “The three most popular apps YouTube, WhatsApp and Facebook will be available to all the Jio Phone users from 15th August. With the added functionalities, our wider network reach across India and strong retail presence across India, the goal that I have now set for our Jio team is to enable 100 million users on this Jio Phone platform in the shortest possible time.”
