JioPhone Next launch scrapped as Google, RIL fail fans; pick new auspicious date

JioPhone Next launch was a dud. Nothing happened and fans were just left waiting high and dry. Reliance had announced the JioPhone Next, which was a result of a collaboration between Reliance Industries’ subsidiary Reliance Jio and Google, would arrive in the markets on Ganesh Chaturthi, that is, September 10, which is today. However, even as all eyes were on Reliance Jio, waiting for it to make the all-important announcement, including on JioPhone Next price and specs, the company, along with Google, rolled out a totally different statement. They indicated JioPhone Next launch will happen around the auspicious occasion of Diwali.

Reliance Jio and Google today announced that they have made “considerable progress towards launching the much-awaited JioPhone Next”. However, then came the bombshell announcement. JioPhone Next isn’t ready for launch just yet. Reliance Jio and Google in a joint press release issued today said that they have started testing the JioPhone Next with a limited set of users. This testing will help the two companies refine the JioPhone Next further for its customers.

In effect, what both have said is that the current industry-wide, global semiconductor shortages have affected the JioPhone Next launch.

Now the question remains, when will the JioPhone Next be launched then? Reliance Jio and Google said that they are working to make the JioPhone Next available in the festive season around Diwali. “Both companies have begun testing the JioPhone Next with a limited set of users for further refinement and are actively working to make it available more widely in time for the Diwali festive season,” Reliance Jio and Google said in a joint statement without confirming the exact date of launch.

Simply said, the JioPhone Next is now tipped to arrive near Diwali and that the exact launch date will be revealed closer to the festive season.

It is worth noting that the JioPhone Next will run on a highly optimised version of Google’s Android mobile operating system and it will feature support for Google Assistant that will provide cricket scores and weather updates to users. JioPhone users will also be able to play music on Jio Saavn or check their balance on My Jio app using Google Assistant. In addition to that, JioPhone Next will come with a special camera app that will feature support for HDR mode and low-light photography mode. The JioPhone Next will come with the Google Play Store that will enable users to download various apps on their smartphones.