Reliance Jio has launched the Jio Bharat J1 4G, a budget-friendly feature phone aimed at making 4G technology accessible to more users.

The phone has a 2.8-inch display and a 2500mAh removable battery, ensuring it lasts through extended use. It includes a 0.3MP rear camera, torch, FM radio, and a 3.5mm audio jack. For those needing more storage, it supports up to 128GB of expandable storage. The phone requires a Jio SIM card to operate, supporting 4G VoLTE for seamless connectivity.

The Jio Bharat J1 4G comes preloaded with several Jio apps. JioTV offers access to over 455 channels, including regional languages. JioCinema allows users to watch shows, movies, and sports. JioPay facilitates easy payments with UPI and QR code scanning, including a sound alert for transaction confirmation. JioChat enables users to send voice messages, participate in group chats, and share photos and videos.

Pricing & availability

Priced at Rs.1,799, the Jio Bharat J1 4G is available on Amazon. Users can also opt for the Rs.123 JioBharat plan, which includes unlimited calling and 14GB of data per month, with a 28-day validity.

In related news, Realme is preparing to launch the Watch S2 alongside the Realme 13 Pro series in India later this month. Teasers have revealed key specifications, including a 380mAh battery that provides up to 20 days of battery life and AI-powered features. The Watch S2 will support over 110 sports modes, offer customizable watch faces, and include a built-in voice assistant, likely powered by ChatGPT AI. It will feature a circular display with a golden rim, two side buttons, an AMOLED screen, and GPS support.

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The Unified Payment Interface aka UPI has become the most popular payment method next to cash for daily transactions in India. And in a recent push to make the service even more accessible, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Tuesday launched a new digital payment mode called UPI 123Pay for features phones, which, he said, will allow India’s 40 crore feature phone users to access the payment service.

Governor Das also launched a helpline for digital payments, ‘DigiSaathi’ in a special RBI event. He said that ‘excluded people’ from the lower rung of society, especially in rural areas, will now be able to access UPI services.

UPI 123Pay will also help RBI reach its objective of a less-cash economy, Das added, saying that more limited payment options will be available to feature phone users.

How “UPI 123Pay” will work

Feature phone users will now be able to undertake a host of transactions based on four technology alternatives. They include calling an IVR (interactive voice response) number, app functionality in feature phones, missed call-based approach, and also proximity sound-based payments, the RBI said.

Such users can initiate payments to friends and family, pay utility bills, recharge the FAST Tags of their vehicles, pay mobile bills and also allow users to check account balances, it said, adding customers will also be able to link bank accounts, set or change UPI PINs.

Further, the 24×7 helpline ‘Digisaathi’ will assist the callers/users with all their queries on digital payments via website and chatbot.

Users can visit www.digisaathi.info or call on 14431 and 1800 891 3333 from their phones for their queries on digital payments and grievances.

An interesting fact mentioned by the RBI is that UPI 123Pay will also be available on feature phones as an app. Considering the nature of feature phones, we know that the app can’t be downloaded onto them, so we soon might see new feature phones released with the app functionality already present on them.

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