NEW DELHI: Reliance Industries'JioPhone became the best-selling feature phone model in the world with 15% in the first quarter of 2018, driving the global feature phone market, which grew 38% annually during the quarter, according to Counterpoint Research. HMD Global ( Nokia ) was the second largest vendor with 14% share, followed by iTel (13%), Samsung (6%) and Tecno (6%).India alone contributed to almost 43% of the total feature phone shipments in the quarter.The top five feature phone list is still dominated by the incumbent 2G feature phones, which might change in the coming quarters, as more 4G feature phones become available in the market, with Nokia HMD launching a 4G version of its 3310 model and the newly launched 8810 models.Other feature phone OEMs like iTel are also expected to follow the trend by launching such devices.Counterpoint's research analyst Shobhit Srivastava, in a blog post, said that there are still around half a billion feature phones sold every year and these continue to serve the needs of the roughly two billion feature phones users globally. "This is still a huge market catering to a diverse user base, many of whom still prefer feature phones over smartphones. The reasons for this loyalty to feature phones are as diverse as the user base."He added that the launch of 4G feature phones is helping OEMs drive feature phone to feature phone upgrades while it also drives 4Gadoption for telecom operators."4G feature phones are positioned to enable the bottom-of-the-pyramid users who are using basic voice services on the mobile phone and cannot afford a smartphone or expensive data plan. They can now access 4G internet for the first time, with key internet capable apps and services from operator’s expanding ecosystem as well as popular third-party companies," he added. Reliance Jio 4G feature phone quickly made it to the top spot in the Indian feature phone market, underlining the potential of 4G feature phones. It is working with KaiOS to bring value to its customers.Counterpoint said that further adoption of 4G feature phone will depend upon possible introduction of new apps e.g. Facebook, Google Assitant, maps, search and digital payments.