Reliance Jio Set To Disrupt Indian PC Market With Cloud Laptop

Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio has initiated discussions with major manufacturers like HP, Acer and Lenovo for a cloud laptop rollout soon, as the telecom player aims to disrupt the Indian PC market.

The upcoming laptop, which will cost around INR 15,000, will function as a “dumb terminal”, according to a report by ET. 

This means that all storage and processing tasks will be handled by the Jio cloud. This approach is expected to significantly reduce the current ownership cost, which is around INR 50,000. Additionally, users will be able to access services at high speeds.

According to the sources cited by the ET, currently it is conducting trials with HP Chromebook for the proposed cloud PC. Jio plans to offer a monthly subscription for the cloud PC, pricing for which will be finalised later. For those, who don’t want to buy a new device, the cloud PC software can be installed on any desktop or even a smart TV to access computing features.

“The cost of a laptop depends on its hardware like memory, processing power, chipset etc. The greater capacity of these hardware increases costs as well as battery power. What we are doing is, we are stripping all this and the whole processing of the laptop will happen at the back end in the Jio cloud,” and official told the publication.

Jio is making a second entry into the laptop market. Earlier this year, the company unveiled JioBook, a 4G-powered laptop priced at INR 16,499. The JioBook operated on the JioOS system. However, the upcoming cloud PC is anticipated to run on different operating systems, including Windows.

Last year in October, Jio introduced the JioBook, and on July 31, it unveiled a new version of the laptop.

Jio aims to establish a notable presence in the digital services market, recognising the substantial opportunity, especially in the context of hybrid workplaces. With the increasing trend of hybrid work, companies seek secure environments for their data assets. Jio is focused on providing digital services that prioritise security, even in a remote work setting.

As per ET, the company is first trying to provide ubiquitous connectivity to all the people and after that, it will start offering digital services, which will bring incremental revenue.

Reliance Jio has a history of targeting budget-conscious consumers with its offerings. From the initial launch of its telecom network, which included free internet and affordable mobile phones, Jio has come a long way.

Reliance Jio reported a 12.5% increase in its consolidated net profit to INR 5,098 Cr during the first quarter (Q1) of the financial year 2023-24.

In the July-September quarter of 2023, India’s personal computer (PC) shipments, encompassing desktops, notebooks, and workstations, reached a record 4.5 Mn units. This reflects a notable 14% year-on-year (YoY) increase, according to data from the International Data Corp (IDC).