How to Get Reliance Jio Sim Without Lyf Phone

HIGHLIGHTS

• Reliance Jio is still offering free SIMs to 'test' its network
• Commercial launch is a few months away, says Mukesh Ambani
• Users get free access for 3 months, maybe longer if the launch is delayed

Reliance Jio is still not at the point of a commercial rollout, so it's too early to say what the actual user experience will be like on the network. Even the actual pricing has to be announced - as of now, not much is clear really about the network. But you can sign up for Jio and enjoy high-speed connectivity without paying a paisa, and free hai to acha hai, right? That's right, each Reliance Jio SIM comes with at least three months of free, unlimited data usage, voice calls, SMS, and access to Jio services like JioOnDemand.

(Update: This guide was written before Reliance Jio network was opened to all. Now that anyone can get a Reliance Jio SIM, see How to Buy and Activate a Reliance Jio SIM Card)

The commercial rollout of Jio will no doubt affect speeds, network availability, and could lead to call drops as well - while other networks, which stand to lose customers in the process, might actually see some improvement in their services. That's all hypothetical though - but for now, we are really enjoying using our Jio account, and would recommend that you try and get one too.

There are a few different ways in which you can get a Reliance Jio SIM. The network works on 4G, and uses VoLTE for calls, but the latter is not available on old phones. There is an app called JioJoin that Reliance offers which works around this through VoIP calling, in case your phone doesn't support VoLTE, so it isn't a very big problem. The easiest way to get your hands a Reliance Jio SIM is to buy a Lyf phone by Reliance Retail.

Reliance Retail's Lyf range of phones hasn't been getting the most spectacular reviews, but it's the easiest way to get a new Reliance Jio SIM right now. Just walk into a Reliance Digital Store, ask for a new Lyf phone, and you're live on Reliance Jio. You can get a phone for as little as Rs. 3,000, and you'll get three months of free, unlimited Internet access and calling along with it.

We can inform you that buying a phone like this, turning on the Wi-Fi hotspot, and using 4G to power your entire home's Internet access, works just fine, and the speed and reliability (at the moment) is better than most broadband connections at home.

This gives you free, unlimited data, calling, and access to all of Reliance Jio's apps for three months, or until the commercial launch of Reliance Jio, whichever is later. But if you don't want to carry around an extra handset everywhere you go, or don't want to buy another phone just to get a Reliance Jio SIM there are other options.

If you have a 4G compatible phone, you can get started with Jio, here's what you need to do to get a Reliance Jio SIM:

1) Make friends with someone working for Reliance
The easiest way to get a Jio SIM is to know someone who works with Reliance. The company allows employees to refer a certain number of people to get Jio SIMs that can be used in your phone. Most Reliance employees are probably used to getting friend requests on Facebook from people that just want a SIM, so you might want to try one of the other methods instead.

2) The Reliance Jio SIM Preview offer
The partner offer is the easiest way of getting a Reliance Jio SIM if you have any of the eligible phones. As of writing this report, the Jio Preview offer has been extended to smartphones by Samsung, HTC, Micromax, Sony, Vivo, Intex, Lava, Gionee, Panasonic, Asus, Xolo, LG, Karbonn, Videocon, YU, Sansui, Alcatel, and TCL.

The complete list of smartphones is as follows:

Samsung phones
Grand Prime 4G, Galaxy J1, Galaxy J2, Galaxy J7, Galaxy J5, Galaxy S5 Plus, Galaxy A5, Galaxy A7, Galaxy Core Prime 4G, Galaxy S6, Galaxy J3 (2016), ON7, Galaxy A8, Galaxy S6 Edge, ON5, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, Galaxy Note 4 Edge, Galaxy Note 5 Duos, Galaxy S5 Neo, S7, Galaxy A5 (2016), Galaxy A7 (2016), S7 Edge, A8 VE, J5 (2016), J7 (2016), ON5 Pro, ON7 Pro, Galaxy J2 (2016), J Max, Galaxy A9, Galaxy A9 Pro, Galaxy C5, Galaxy C7, Galaxy J2 Pro, Galaxy Note 7.

LG phones
K332 (K7 LTE), K520DY (Stylus 2), K520DY, H860 (LG G5), K500I (X Screen), K535D (Stylus 2 Plus), LGH630D (G4 Stylus 4G) & LGH 442 (LGC70 Spirit LTE)

Micromax phones
Bolt Selfie, Canvas 5, Canvas 5 Lite, Canvas 5 Lite Special Edition, Canvas 6, Canvas 6 Pro, Canvas Amaze 4G, Canvas Blaze 4G, Canvas Blaze 4G Plus, Canvas Evok, Canvas Fire 4G, Canvas Fire 4G plus, Canvas Fire 6, Canvas Juice 4G, Canvas Knight 2, Canvas Mega 2, Canvas Mega 4G, Canvas Nitro 4G, Canvas Pace 4G, Canvas Play 4G, Canvas Pulse 4G, Canvas Sliver 5, Canvas Tab, Canvas Unite 4, Canvas Xpress 4G, Unite 4 Plus, Unite 4 Pro

Yu phones
Yu Yureka, Yu Yutopia, YU Note, Yu Yuphoria, Yunicorn, Yunique, Yuphoria, Yureka Plus, Yureka S

Asus phones
ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL), Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML), Zenfone Max (ZC550KL), Zenfone 2 Laser 5.0 (ZE500KL), Zenfone 2 (ZE550ML), Zenfone Selfie( ZD551KL), Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE601KL), Zenfone Zoom(ZX551ML), Zenfone Go 5.0 LTE (T500), Zenfone 3 ZE552KL, Zenfone 3 Laser( ZC551KL), Zenfone 3( ZE520KL), Zenfone 3( ZS570KL), Zenfone 3( ZU680KL)

Gionee phones
E8, F103 Pro, F103(1GB), F103(2GB), F103(3GB), M4, M5, M5 Lite, M5 Lite CDMA, M5 Plus, P5L, S Plus, S6, S6s, S7, V6L

Karbonn phones
Aura 1, Aura Power, Quattro L45 IPS, Quattro L50 HD, Quattro L51 HD, Quattro L52 VR, Quattro L55 HD

Lava phones
A71, A72, A76, A76 Plus, A88, A89, A97, Ivory s 4g, Lava V5 M, Pixel V2, V2s, X10, X11, X12, X17, X28, X38, X41, X41 Plus, X46, X50, X50 Plus, X81

Xolo phones
Black-1X M, era 1X, era 2X, era 4G, era 4K, era X

Panasonic phones
ELUGA L, ELUGA Switch, ELUGA Icon, T45, ELUGA I2 ( 1GB ), ELUGA L2, ELUGA Mark, ELUGA Turbo, ELUGA Arc, ELUGA I2 2GB, ELUGA I2 3GB, ELUGA I3, ELUGA Icon 2, ELUGA A2, ELUGA Note, P55 Novo 4G, ELUGA Arc 2, P77

TCL phones
FIT 5.5, Pride T500L, TCL 560, TCL 562

Alcatel phones
OneTouch X1, Pixi 4 -5, POP Star, POP3, POP4

Sony smartphones
Xperia X A, Xperia X A Ultra, Xperia X(F5122), Xperia Z5 Dual(E6883), Xperia Z5 Premium Dual

Videocon smartphones
Graphite1 V45ED, Krypton 3 V50JG, Q1, V50FA3, V50FG6

Sansui smartphones
S50 FD45S

HTC smartphone
Desire 626 dual SIM, Desire 628, Desire 630, Desire 728 Dual SIM, Desire 820, Desire 820Q, Desire 820S Dual SIM, Desire 825, Desire 826, Desire 826 DS, Desire 828 DS, Desire 830, Desire Eye, HTC 10, HTC 10 Life style, One A9, One E9 S dual SIM, One E9+ Dual SIM, One M8, One M8 Eye, One M9 Plus, One M9e, One ME Dual SIM, One X9

Vivo smartphones
vivo V3, vivo V3Max, vivo Y21L, vivo Y51L

Intex smartphones
Aqua 4G, Aqua 4G Star, Aqua 4G Strong, Aqua 4G+, Aqua Ace, Aqua Ace 2, Aqua Ace Mini, Aqua Craze, Aqua Eco 4G, Aqua GenX, Aqua Music, Aqua Power 4G, Aqua Raze, Aqua S7, Aqua Secure, Aqua Shine 4G, Aqua Strong 5.1, Aqua Super, Aqua Trend, Aqua Turbo 4G, Aqua View, Aqua Wing, Cloud 4G Smart, Cloud 4G Star, Cloud Crystal 2.5D, Cloud Fame 4G, Cloud Flash, Cloud Glory 4G, Cloud Jewel, Cloud String HD, Cloud String V2.0, Cloud Swift

Just follow these steps on a qualifying smartphone:

1. Download & Open MyJio App from Play Store
2. Tap on Get Jio SIM on the Banner
3. Tap on Agree & Get Jio offer
4. Select your location from the drop down
5. Read through the steps and click on Next
6. Offer Code can be viewed on the screen. Note down your offer code.

Once that's done, you will get a bar code that you need to take to a Reliance Digital where you have to show your phone and you'll get a SIM. Remember to carry a photograph for the form, and your photo ID, and the staff will do the rest. Quick tip: in our experience - and what many other people online are also telling us - the Reliance Digital Xpress Mini Stores are much more efficient about this process than the larger Reliance Digital stores.

Note that though only a few phones qualify for the Reliance Jio SIM under this offer, you can still use this SIM on other phones if you want.

3) Get a JioFi Portable Wi-Fi hotspot
Jio is also keen to go after users at home, taking on broadband providers and not just other phone networks. One of the easiest ways to get a Reliance Jio SIM is to get the JioFi router. Launched first for HP customers, anyone can now get the JioFi router, with three months of free 4G data, although you have to pay Rs. 2,899 for the wireless compact router. That still works out to less than Rs. 1,000 a month for free, unlimited, fast data, so it's a pretty good deal considering that unfair FUPs are the norm on all other networks.

(Also see: Reliance JioFi Device - How to Buy, Price, Plans, and Everything You Need to Know)

The JioFi is a small Mi-Fi device that can create a Wi-Fi zone that up to 31 devices can connect to SIMultaneously; great for taking your phone, laptop, and tablet online all at once. It takes three hours to charge, and can be used to broadcast a signal for six hours on battery, so you can use it at home or on the go. To buy the router, you just need to get it from a Reliance Digital store. You'll need the same documents you need for a SIM card, and you'll have to televerify in the same manner, but then you're up and running.

4) Ask nicely at your local Reliance Digital
Owners of any 4G smartphone can walk in to select Reliance Digital and Xpress Mini stores and get their hands on a Reliance Jio SIM, complete with the Jio Preview offer. The catch is that the offer is only available in select outlets, which can offer Jio SIM cards to customers at their discretion. You can try asking nicely at your local outlet... and if that doesn't work, try at a few other stores as well until someone feels bad and gives you the SIM.

All these methods can help you get a Jio connection right away, before the actual consumer launch in the "coming months". Have you got a Reliance Jio SIM? What's your experience been like? Tell us via the comments.

WhatsApp Voicemail Features Comes to Android & iOS

WhatsApp has been building some interesting new features into its messaging application for iOS and Android users, the most talked about ones being the secret font and file sharing options. There were leaks about WhatsApp adding voicemail feature to its app, and the company seems to have now rolled it out to iOS and Android users.

WhatsApp version 2.16.8 on iOS and 2.16.229 on Android brings this latest update to iPhone and iPad users, who can now leave a voice recording, or a voicemail, if the other person does not pick up the call or cancels it altogether. This feature had been on Android in the beta mode until now.

Now, when you call another person on WhatsApp from your smartphone, upon disconnection of the call, you will be prompted with a ‘Voice Message’ option. Hold down the voice message option to speak, lift it up once you’re done and it’ll automatically send it to the other person.

In case you do not want to send the voicemail, swipe to the left to delete it and send it to the bin. There is one shortfall with the voicemail right now, you cannot listen to the recording again before hitting the send button. Once a voicemail has gone, there is no way to delete it once it reaches the person on the other side, much like the texting feature.

This option is very similar to the simply sending voice messages on WhatsApp chat, except here you can make sure the other person knows you made the call and then left a message. The voicemails will be shown as a part of the conversation with the person you were trying to contact.

WhatsApp recently crossed the 100 Million calls a day figure and this update is an important addition to make WhatsApp calling as close to calling on a regular network. Voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP) technology is currently being used by the company, as it plans to introduce calling to landlines as well.

Facebook-owned WhatsApp is trying to up its game to counter Telegram, Hike and Viber by adding features already available in its competitors. What the company should focus on are video calls, conference calls and WhatsApp for business(like we have Skype for Business) to keep its users engaged.

Google Maps Now Supports Full Offline Mode & SD Card Map Storage

Google Maps with ‘Offline areas’ has become a necessity these days. Think of any road trip, somewhere far where you have never been and you will automatically want to store that area in your Google Maps app (via offline places) and add desired pitstops.

It won’t be wrong to say that Google Maps has become an integral part of our lives. The users can now even edit maps and insert suggestions in Google Maps. I always keep my ‘Offline areas’ updated even when I have no plans to travel outside the city. Doing this not only gives me peace of mind, but also makes me ready to traverse those unknown areas of my city without asking for directions.

“Once you’ve switched to “Wi-fi only”, the Google Maps app will work completely offline — no Wi-Fi needed! You will still be able to use other apps and the rest of your phone as you normally would. And you might even save on battery life too. If you need to see what the traffic is like or update your offline maps, you can easily switch back to online mode by changing your setting or finding the nearest Wi-Fi,” said Sanket Gupta, Product Manager, Google Maps.

Google Maps supports offline areas for a while now, but the latest update adds support for ‘WiFi only’ mode letting youuse it completely offline even when the other apps are connected to the internet via mobile data. This would let yousave a lot of mobile data during those long road trips or to places with expensive cellular data.

The ‘WiFi only’ mode would also help save your phone’s battery while offering a seamless offline navigation experience.

Google Maps Becomes Entry-level Smartphones Friendly

Also with this update you would now be able to save offline areas in Google Maps on your entry-level Android smartphones too. While saving offline areas to internal memory has never been an issue for those with mid-range and high-end phones, people with affordable phones (4-8 GB ROM) have had difficulty in storing offline mode in Google Maps.

Entry-level smartphone users what it’s like when they can’t try a new app just because their phone doesn’t have sufficient free storage. Thankfully with this new update, they can now store offline areas in SD card too.

“Now, in addition to saving an area of the maps for offline use later, if you have a device that supports SD cards, you can opt to save your downloaded maps to an external SD card (if your device supports them) and free up storage space for important stuff like your holiday snaps or road trip playlists. Now you’ll never have to choose between snapping more food photos or the ability to navigate offline,” Sanket explained.

Another change that comes with this new update to Google Maps is new options for ride services in various cities across Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Currently Google Maps in India shows ride services only fromUber and Ola. We are expecting that Google will soon add more ride services to Google Maps in India too.