Reliance Jio entered the telecom sector last year and disrupted the space with free local and national calls, along with affordable internet for everyone. At this year’s AGM, the telecom operator launched another disruptive product, the JioPhone, which is a smart feature phone. While it costs effectively zero, there is Rs 1,500 security deposit three years that users need to pay to order the JioPhone. Now, Reliance Jio has clarified the entire refund policy.
If a customer chooses to return the JioPhone within the first 12 months, no refund will be given. But, if one opts to surrender the handset between 12-24 months, Jio will offer a refund of Rs 500. Similarly, if a customer returns the JioPhone between 24 months to 36 months, a refund of Rs 1,000 will be offered. At the time of returning the JioPhone, GST will also be applicable. 
Only after completing 36 months from the date of purchase, a customer can avail full refund of Rs 1,500. For those wondering why the company is charging a security deposit, Mukesh Ambani mentioned at the AGM that Jio wants to encourage users to use the JioPhone, and avoid misuse. He also mentioned that JioPhone will only be given to existing Jio subscribers.
Talking about the specifications and features, the JioPhone features a 2.4-inch QVGA display (240×320 pixels), and it is powered by an SPRD 9820A/QC8905 dual-core chipset clocked at 1.2GHz. It is paired with Mali-400 GPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, and a microSD card slot for expandable storage. 
The JioPhone also sports a 2-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera for video calling. Armed with a 2,000mAh battery, the JioPhone comes with Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE with VoLTE HD voice calling. It comes with NFC connectivity, which will enable contactless payment solution later this year. 
Voice calling for customers of Reliance Jio would always be free and they would also get unlimited data for a month on a recharge of Rs 153. What’s more, the JioPhone will also come pre-loaded with Jio apps for messaging and entertainment, and users can also connect their JioPhone with television sets for watching live TV. The connector cable will be sold separately by Reliance Jio.