New Delhi: The pre-booking of Reliance Jio Phone will start for ₹ 500 across Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd’s retail stores, the website and the Jio App from 5pm on Thursday, according to a message sent out by the telecom firm.

“India Ka Smartphone is finally here! Pre-booking for Jio Phone starts tomorrow August 24 at 5 pm," an SMS sent to a Jio customer read. A leading channel partner of Reliance Retail, which did not wish to be named, said the messages are being sent to all those who have registered their interest in Jio Phone.

“As announced by Reliance Industries CMD (Mukesh Ambani), Jio Phone will be given against payment of fully-refundable deposit of ₹ 1,500. Customers will be able to book Jio Phone for ₹ 500 and the balance ₹ 1,000 can be paid at the time of delivery in September. The total amount will be refunded after 36 months when the customer returns the phone," the partner said.

Ambani had announced that voice calling for customers of the “effectively free" Jio Phone would be always free and they would get unlimited data for a month against payment of ₹ 153.

Reliance Jio has also announced a weekly plan for ₹ 53 and a two-day plan for ₹ 23 for unlimited data access.

Jio Phone, which can be operated by speaking out instructions to dial, type messages and the like will come with preloaded Jio apps for messaging and entertainment. The phone can be connected with television sets for watching live TV using the Jio TV app. The phone will also include some of the popular instant messaging and social networking apps, the channel partner said.

“Despite anticipation that the phone will hold higher appeal among rural users, retailers from urban centres are aggressively placing orders for the phone. In spite of the floods in Bihar, it is one of the top states where retailers are anticipating high demand for the Jio Phone," the partner added.

Reliance Retail has a target of making available 50 lakh units of the Jio Phone every week from September.

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