WhatsApp messenger finally available in JioPhone, JioPhone 2

WhatApp has finally arrived on the original JioPhone and JioPhone 2. Reliance had announced the messenger would be made available at its annual general meeting in July, where it had also introduced the new JioPhone 2. Jio claims that its smart/feature phone is the largest selling phone in India, and that in the under Rs 1500 category, 8 out of 10 devices sold are the JioPhone. The company has not given its source for this data.

JioPhone already has Facebook and Google Maps, which have been designed for KaiOS, the operating system that powers its device. This is WhatsApp’s first step in entering the 4G feature phone market, which is important in a market like India where it dominates. Feature phones still continue to outsell smartphones in India. For Reliance, the addition of most popular messaging apps in India, will make its JioPhone acceptable to more customers.

Users can go to the Jio app on their original JioPhone or the new JioPhone 2 and hit download on WhatsApp Messenger. The app should download on the phone, and will be ready to run. Users will have to then verify their number on WhatsApp and they can start using the app.