BSNL might partner Micromax to launch a Rs 2K Jio phone rival

Given the craze around Reliance Jio's 'free' 4G mobile phone, feature phones might just have got a new lease of life in this age of smartphones. So after Jio phone, state-owned telecom operator BSNL is partnering Micromax to launch a Rs 2,000 'Bharat one' 4G VoLTE feature phone, according to an ET report.

Citing people in the know of the things, the report said that the duo will be launching a 4G feature phone in the month of October with attractive offers, including free voice.

The launch of the feature phone is deliberately timed around the festival season and given the huge user base of BSNL in the rural areas, the feature phone is expected to give tough competition to Jio's 4G phone that comes for an effective price of Rs 0. The move could also prove a game-changer for Micromax, which is witnessing dwindling fortunes in the face of an onslaught from Chinese smartphone makers.

The upcoming Bharat One feature phone will reportedly have a larger screen, sharper camera, and increased battery life than the other feature phones presently available in the market.