Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio launched the JioPhone last year in July. The JioPhone is a 4G VoLTE-enabled feature phone that comes with some smartphone-like features. While some of the apps like JioTV were already available for JioPhone, it got Google Assistant last December and Facebook over a month ago. However, JioPhone users are waiting for popular messaging app WhatsApp to be available on JioPhone, and, if the recent reports are anything to go by, then that could happen soon.
WABetaInfo – who tracks upcoming features in WhatsApp – has found some “references about the development of a new native KaiOS app” in the latest WhatsApp beta version 2.18.38 for Windows Phone. For those unaware, the JioPhone runs KaiOS which is a forked version of Firefox OS.
Well, if WhatsApp indeed makes its way to JioPhone, it would make it easier for millions of JioPhone users to stay in touch with their family and friends. Moreover, the availability of WhatsApp on JioPhone could also help Reliance Jio attract more buyers.
Having said that, as of now, there’s no word from either Jio or WhatsApp about the availability of WhatsApp on JioPhone. However, back in August last year, there were some reports of JioPhone coming with a special version of WhatsApp.
Well even if WhatsApp makes its way to JioPhone, chances are it would be missing some of the features that are found on its Android, iOS and Windows Phone counterparts. After all, the JioPhone is a feature phone, not a smartphone.