Airtel partners with Intex to offer low cost 4G phone at ₹ 1,649

India’s largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel said that it has partnered Intex to offer a low cost bundled 4G smartphone at an “effective price” of ₹1,649 in a bid to counter JioPhone.

Two other smartphones - Aqua A4 and Aqua S3 - will also be available at effective prices of ₹1,999 and ₹4,379, respectively as part of the partnership.

Airtel, has similar partnerships with handset makers Celkon and Karbonn, has expanded its initiative in collaboration with Intex.

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio is offering an Internet- enabled feature phone for a refundable deposit of ₹ 1,500.

Incumbent operators are also lining up their own bundled offers to counter the



offensive.

Vodafone India, for example, has tied up with mobile handset firm Micromax to launch a 4G smartphone at an ’effective price’ of ₹999.

Airtel said the Intex Aqua LIONS N1 handset (market price of ₹ 3,799) has a 4-inch screen, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage (expandable up to 128GB) and 2MP rear and VGA front camera.

Customers will need to make a down payment of ₹ 3,149 for the handset, followed by 36 monthly recharges of ₹ 169.

After 18 months, the customer will get a cash refund of ₹ 500 and another of ₹ 1,000 after completion of 36 months.

In case the customer does not wish to opt for the ₹169 bundled plan, he can purchase any other recharge plan.