Jio's Wireless Data Goes Commercial, Jio MyFi Review

While we are waiting for Jio to announce its commercial launch, Jio has actually launched part of its services commercially. That's data services i.e. wireless broadband from Jio via WiFi hotspots has already been launched.

Though Jio has kept mum, almost 2 weeks back all Reliance Digital stores started selling MiFi devices with out any invitation, referral codes or anything. You walk into the store, pay Rs 2899, Rs 1999, submit your ID proof and a passport size photo and you get the device. But the device does not come with a SIM card itself, rather you will get the SIM once your KYC documents are verified.

 ** Update: On 1st September Mukesh Ambani has removed the curtain over Jio. Jio services will be free to all customers till 31st December 2016. Post that you can use Jio prepaid or postpaid plans. The plans are coming with unlimited voice & text, plus data (with unlimited data in night and WiFi data to be used on JioNet public WiFi networks). 

Once verified you will get a text from Jio on your mobile and then visit the store again to collect the SIM. This whole procedure takes 3-4 days generally, but it might take upto 10 days. In my case I got the text on 6th day. Note that you can't select a number - Jio will allot a no. to you.

Vodafone 3G vs 4G : Review at Kolkata

Last week I made my first MNP - ported my Tata Docomo prepaid GSM number to Vodafone prepaid. The reason behind porting was Tata Docomo has no 3G in Kolkata. The process was pretty fast - I generated porting code on 2nd August and submitted at Vodafone store that day. On 5th Tata Docomo SIM got switched off and Vodafone SIM is activated on the same day after televerification.

The Vodafone SIM card I received, is a 4G enabled SIM. So I planned for a 4G vs 3G speed test on Vodafone.

During the televerification I was told that using MyVodafone app will get me 100MB 3G/4G data. However I received the data on 13th and made some speedtests using SpeedTest.net app and Jio's NetVelocity app.

Discussion : Future of Tikona

In the begining of August this year Tikona got nod from the Finance Ministry on the basis of the recommendations made by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), for the issuance of CCDs worth Rs 267 crore thereby increasing foreign equity to 76.73 per cent. It means Tikona can now attract FDI of Rs 267 crore. By the last week of August, Tikona has raised $171 million for import of capital goods, as reported.

Founded in 2008, Tikona is brain child of Prakash Bajpai who is founder, MD and CEO of the company. Tikona is funded by several private equity companies.

Telenor Expanding 4G in India, Now in 13 Cities

Telenor India is expanding its 4G/LTE services in its operational circles very fast. In February this year Telenor had said that they will roll out 4G services on their existing 4G-compatible 1800MHz band and they started the field trial with Huawei's LeanGSM technologies. In March Telenor has entered into 4G space by introducing 4G in Varanasi. 

In 5 months Telenor has been rapidly increasing the 4G footprint. Right now in 6 circles Telenor 4G is live with coverage in 16 cities as of now. 

JIO Money Failed on My First Transaction of 'Pay at Shop'

Whenever Reliance Industries backed JIO Digial services is launched (via invitation system), I became very skeptical about it inspite of the fact that I from the very begining was so assured that JIO will be a successful story in the history of Indian telecommunications and will pave a new horizon in the digial India. 

JIO has its own mobile money services, called JIO Money and it's active for a quite long time. As Jio is about to launch its services commercially across the country, different apps from Jio are being updated and added with new features. JIO Money has introduced 'Pay at Shop' option.

So I thought of tring the new cashless facilities on Jio Money at Reliance Fresh, the super marketplace chain from the house of RIL.