Mukesh Ambani, Indian mobile operator Reliance Jio, a subsidiary of Jio Platforms Ltd. announced a partnership with Google. In addition to providing communication services, Jio Platforms is developing a national online trading platform and online services in the Indian market, but the result of its cooperation with Google should be a completely new entry-level smartphone.
Jio is already known in India for its budget phones running KaiOS. The development of the new smartphone will be handled mainly by Google.
At the annual meeting of shareholders of Jio Platforms, it was reported that Google invested $ 4,5 billion in the company, buying a 7,73% stake in the mobile operator. Recall that earlier Facebook also invested $5,7 billion in Reliance Jio, which currently owns 9,99% of the operator's shares. Through these and other injections, Jio Platforms has raised about $20,2 billion over the past four months from 13 investors, selling about 33% of the shares.
As part of a strategic partnership, Google and Reliance Jio Platforms will work on a customized version of Android for the development of entry-level smartphones. It is reported that these devices will come with the Google Play app store and will receive support for fifth-generation cellular networks. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that the mission of this collaboration is to bring technology to as many people as possible. Reliance Jio has a customer base of more than 400 million subscribers, many of whom use the most basic phones and currently do not have access to the Internet. It is this target audience that the search giant plans to attach to its services by providing them with an affordable smartphone. Thus, the next ultra-budget device, most likely based on Android Go Edition, should become the fruit of the cooperation of the companies.
It is worth noting that Indian companies have become more active in attracting Western investment in connection with the heated political conflict with China. Since the US is in a trade war with the Middle Kingdom, such cooperation is in the hands of both sides.
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Source: 3dnews.ru