Now BSNL launches 4G enabled feature phone for Rs 2200 with Micromax

Key Highlights

• BSNL and Micromax have launched 4G enabled feature phone Bharat-1.
• The phone is priced at Rs 2,200.
• Customers will also have to pay Rs 97 per month for unlimited calls and data on BSNL network.

Partnering with telecom operators to launch bundled handsets is the new upcoming trend in the Indian market. Now Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has partnered with Micromax to launch its own Volte feature phone – Bharat-1.

The phone will be sold to users at Rs 2,200 and it will come with unlimited calls and data for an additional Rs 97 per month, a report by Economic Times said on Wednesday.

"Both Micromax and BSNL have been working with an aim to bring the next wave of unconnected users on the Internet. We will now take this vision forward with Bharat-1 and create a compelling proposition for the users that is a first in the category," the report quoted Rahul Sharma of Micromax.

The companies has plans to dish out over 500 million feature phones to Indian users the report added.

The Bharat-1 phone will come with the latest Qualcomm 205 Mobile Platform. It will be powered by a 2000 mAh battery, will have a 512MB RAM and 4GB ROM.

With a 2.4 inch QVGA screen and 2 megapixel rear camera the phone will also have a VGA selfie camera, 4G VoLTE and Dual Sim connectivity.

Zeebiz had first reported a rise in feature phones taking over the Indian market in July this year with the launch of the JioPhone citing 50 crore feature phone users.

After Reliance Jio gave impetus to the phenomenon by l aunching its own 4G enabled feature phone – JioPhone, other operators also joined in to provide mobile handsets to the masses through bundling.

The JioPhone is priced at Rs 1,500 which is a refundable security deposit that will be returned after three years.

Airtel has also announced that it will provide the iPhone 7 32GB for a down payment of Rs 7,777 along with a monthly plan of Rs 2499.

Airtel had also partnered with Karbonn last week to introduce a 4G smartphone for the price of Rs 1,399 along with a monthly pack of Rs 169.

Making a case for feature phones in India other companies like Intex has also come out with a 4G enabled feature phone at Rs 1500. 

Also Read:

• Airtel partners with Karbonn to roll out 4G smartphones
• JioPhone: Feature phones will continue to rule the Indian market in 2017