Jio to launch low-cost laptop called 'JioBook'

Jio, the telecom giant which released the cheapest 4G cell phones to rule the market is now aiming to conquer the country's laptop market. According to XDA Developer's report, Jio is in 4G supporting cheaper laptop's workshop right now. The budget-laptops named 'JioBook' are to be launched in the country incorporated with an Android OS instead of Windows.

There were reports that the American chipset manufacturer Qualcomm's product management senior director, Miguel Nunes had talks regarding the Jiobook with Reliance in 2018. But there weren't many reports later. But XDA has reported that Jio had started working on their laptop last September. They plan to assemble the laptops within the first half of this year and launch it at year-end.

Jio is partnering with a Chinese tech firm called Bluebank Communication Technology in developing the laptops. The firm is evaluating the performance of Jiobook with the cheaper parts they have installed. The parts are mostly imported from Samsung and Qualcomm. The Snapdragon 665, a low budget processor of Qualcomm, is going to run the Android-based Jiobook. The Snapdragon 665 does not support Windows 10 in ARM.

Reliance is using it to reduce production cost. The Snapdragon 665 is used in some Chinese phones priced below 15,000 rupees.

The XDA site says that Reliance plans to merge Google's mobile OS into their laptop and add skin over it to call it JioOS.

Two of the JioBook models were developed by Bluebank Communication Technology. One with 2GB LPDDR4X RAM with 32GB eMMC storage and 4GB LPDDR4X RAM with 64GB eMMC 5.1 storage is the other one.

Mini HDMI connector for video output, Bluetooth-Wifi support with 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, Qualcomm audio chipset, three-axis accelerometer etc. will be the specifications of JioBook.

Though the laptop is working on Google OS, Google apps won't be pre-installed in it. A license for distributing Google Mobile Service is required for it. Jio wouldn't be attempting to acquire that since it is focussed on reducing the developing cost to the maximum. Some Jio apps will be installed instead. Microsoft Edge browser and Teams office will also be pre-installed. Aiming the customers with lower incomes, the JioBook will be sold in India at the least price.

JioBook is coming as part of its plan in expanding the digital services in the country.