The launch of Reliance’s affordable JioPhone Next was scheduled for September 10 on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi festival
In a joint statement, Reliance and Google said that they have started testing the phone with a limited set of users
Industry experts tell Inc42 that global semiconductor (or chip) shortages is one of the primary reasons behind the delay
The much-anticipated affordable ‘JioPhone Next’ smartphone, developed jointly by Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance and tech giant Google, appears to have hit a roadblock owing to the severe global semiconductor shortage. The handset, which was scheduled to be launched on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi festival (September 10) in the country, will not arrive before Diwali (November 4).
The companies said in a joint statement that they have made considerable progress towards launching the ‘JioPhone Next’ and have begun testing with a limited set of users for further refinement, and are actively working to make it available more widely in time for the Diwali festive season. The companies said that this additional time will also help mitigate the current industry-wide, global semiconductor shortages.