Jio and the rumoured $50 smartphone: reading the signals
This report is available to those subscribed to the Digital Consumer module.
Media speculation has surfaced that Reliance Jio is in advanced stages of designing a smartphone expected to be priced around $50. Several Chinese models and prior ventures from would-be challengers to the iOS/Android smartphone duopoly (such as Firefox) have been released in this price bracket over the last 10 years. However, these have involved fundamental trade-offs in capabilities and performance relative to mid and higher end models. Instead, more consumers have defaulted to a new breed of cheaper, basic phones with internet connectivity - 'smart feature phones'. While the Jio initiative would impact only India, the engineering and content enhancements required for such a handset have implications for other developing countries looking to stimulate internet access rates - particularly Africa, where penetration remains stubbornly low.
Related research
Mobile Investment Gaps: Pacific Islands
By 2030, a significant investment gap will remain in the Pacific Islands unless reform is implemented to unlock investment, improve returns and affordability, and remove the barriers hindering adoption and digital inclusion.
Extended reality: developing a successful B2C strategy requires work in five important areas
Extended reality (XR) technology, which comprises augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality, has been around for a while, but it still suffers from a low adoption rate. Only 5% of consumers on average own an XR headset, according to the latest GSMA Intelligence consumer survey, conducted across 12 major mobile markets worldwide. In this report, we discuss the five key areas that XR companies need to focus on for developing a successful consumer strategy, which include identifying the prime consumer segments to target and widening consumer access to XR experiences.
Towards a digital nation: addressing the scam economy in Asia Pacific
The rapid expansion of digital technologies, and mobile connectivity in particular, has profoundly impacted scam techniques and their reach. All individuals with a mobile subscription – approximately 5.8 billion people – are potential targets for scams. Rises in the volume, frequency, sophistication and success rate of scams in recent years are having a significant financial impact on victims and the global economy.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
Mobile Investment Gaps: Pacific Islands
By 2030, a significant investment gap will remain in the Pacific Islands unless reform is implemented to unlock investment, improve returns and affordability, and remove the barriers hindering adoption and digital inclusion.
Extended reality: developing a successful B2C strategy requires work in five important areas
Extended reality (XR) technology, which comprises augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality, has been around for a while, but it still suffers from a low adoption rate. Only 5% of consumers on average own an XR headset, according to the latest GSMA Intelligence consumer survey, conducted across 12 major mobile markets worldwide. In this report, we discuss the five key areas that XR companies need to focus on for developing a successful consumer strategy, which include identifying the prime consumer segments to target and widening consumer access to XR experiences.
Towards a digital nation: addressing the scam economy in Asia Pacific
The rapid expansion of digital technologies, and mobile connectivity in particular, has profoundly impacted scam techniques and their reach. All individuals with a mobile subscription – approximately 5.8 billion people – are potential targets for scams. Rises in the volume, frequency, sophistication and success rate of scams in recent years are having a significant financial impact on victims and the global economy.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics