Several ‘Conditions Apply’ on Reliance Jio’s Free Calls, Data Packages 

Mumbai: Reliance Jio’s 4G services are operational from September 5 onwards. And the customers who sign up for data and voice will get free services till December 31, 2016. The actual tariffs will come into force from January 1, 2017. Jio is creating tremors across the entire nation with its aggressive campaign highlighting free voice and roaming in addition to most affordable data packages. But, how far it’s true and how real is the free call as claimed by Reliance Jio. Consumers need to be cautious as there are ‘conditions apply’ clause.

Let’s take a look at some of the major offers from the India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani.

Rs 50/1 GB offer

For instance, Jio’s 4G service will offer free voice-calling to customers and it claims to have the lowest data rates in the world starting at Rs 50 per GB. The plans are starting at Rs 19 and with free voice-calling. But, this Rs19 plan is valid for only one day.
Another major feature is free voice calling, but video calls you make on the network will be debited via your data calling pack. The plans start from January 1, 2017.

Data packages

If you want to start your Jio prepaid recharge with the low budget packs. Reliance Jio says prepaid packs with denominations Rs 19, Rs 129 and Rs 299 cannot be used as the first recharge by a new customer. Also the Rs 19 and Rs 129 data pack have a validity of one day and seven days respectively, which is quite less.

If you run out of the 4GB data pack, the charging rates don’t start at Rs 50 per one GB. But, the rate is Rs 250/GB at 10 KB charging pulse, which is not exactly cheap and also it’s on par with other operators.

Free WiFi

Free WiFi data benefit in prepaid and postpaid plans will only work through public WiFi hotspots of Reliance Jio. A user needs to access and log-in on the Reliance Jio WiFi app to access these, after you have located an actual WiFi hotspot.

Unlimited Night package

Another major attractive package is ‘Unlimited at Night.’ In reality, the unlimited package works between 2am and 5am and it costs your sleep. If you use beyond this, your regular data pack will apply.

Jio apps

The subscription for Jio apps is free for now, but you’ll be charged from January 1 onwards. Any data used during these apps will be cut from your regular data pack applicable at the time. This also includes video calls. Importantly, these Jio apps don’t work on non-Jio Networks, and you will need to be on Reliance Jio 4G to actually access these apps.

Free voice calls

Reliance Jio uses Voice Over Long Term Evolution Technology (VoLTE), which encrypts audio into data and transfers to the other end. But in normal existing technology, mobile operators use Circuit Switching, which creates a communication channel between two networks nodes. Consumers can enjoy free calls made from phone dialer and JioJoin App, but calls from WhatsApp, Facebook messenger and Skype will attract data charges. The main revenue source for Reliance Jio is from data charges only. If you get 4GB for Rs499, it’ll not long last on 4G and you need to go for topups. As per data add on rates, one GB costs Rs151. Consumers using 4G mobile phones are forced to spend more on data. This is the hidden business model.

And on postpaid plans, if you exhaust the free 4G LTE data, the extra data will be free but at a reduced speed of 128Kbps, which may not serve the purpose of young generation’s requirements.
Reliance Jio is offering 15 per cent discount for postpaid users who opt for auto-debit option using credit/debit cards/online transfer for their bill. Students with valid ID also get 25 per cent additional 4G and WiFi data benefits.
All local and STD video calls in home and national roaming will be charged only for data usage. Data on roaming has the same rates as data in your home circle.

Reliance Jio Prepaid vouchers on the Plan page of Jio.com list out the pricing for the calls, SMS, on roaming, home. Rates are shown as Rs 1/SMS and voice call charges are 2p per second and 5 per second for video across the board. These are part of Start Up Kit. The Start Up Kit priced at Rs 10 (inclusive of all taxes) and benefits listed under these apply till December 31. According to the fine print, “subscribers can start availing the above Plan Vouchers with effect from 5 September 2016.