Samsung Will Supply Low Cost 4G Phones To Reliance | TechTree.com

Samsung Will Supply Low Cost 4G Phones To Reliance

Reliance is expected to make 4G data services operational, using the LTE standard.

 

Indian telecom service provider, Reliance has apparently inked a deal with smartphone manufacturing major Samsung, in a bid to offer low-cost 4G LTE smartphones. Likely, these Reliance 4G phones will operate over the TD-LTE standard which is said to carry lower infrastructure costs (as against the costlier FD-LTE used in the US and Western Europe).

Samsung is quoted to offer these entry-level 4G smartphones to make use of Reliance's high-speed Internet services at a price of Rs 5,500. Entry-level 4G smartphones will be subsidised for those with data plans costing Rs 100 upwards. This tie-up may lead to high-end smartphones being sold on contract as well, thus reducing upfront costs for the consumer.

By contrast, even the most basic 3G smartphone by Samsung is currently priced at Rs 6,000. Samsung has the Galaxy Note 2 and Skyrocket 2 supporting 4G LTE in the United States and has various low-end phones such as the Galaxy Express that support 4G in South Korea. Now with the company's phones expected to support Reliance's 4G network, we Indians who love to consume Internet content on-the-move can look forward to these.

As of today, India's 4G networks are sparse in coverage. Bharti Airtel provides 4G data service in Bangalore and Kolkata, with 4G voice services only in its Pune telecom circle. Reliance entering the fray now with 4G services would be welcome, though I'd expect service rollout to be slow and fraught with teething issues.


TAGS: Reliance, Samsung, smartphones, Telecom

 
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