Jio is the upcoming high speed 4G network from Reliance and it is one of the largest 4G deployments in the country. While the commercial rollout is set to take place later this year, you can test drive the Jio network by signing up for the preview offer. You could buy a lyf device starting at Rs 2,999 and get a free Jio SIM card with unlimited 4G data, calls and SMS for 90 days. The SIM would be locked to the lyf device and there is no information about the tariffs beyond the free 90-day period.
Recently, the company has also partnered with handset maker Samsung to offer a free trial for 90 days on select Samsung devices which support VolTE. All you got to do is download the My Jio app from the Playstore and generate a code and head to a Reliance Digital store with your document proofs and a photograph to receive the SIM card. I have been using the lyf Water 1 for over a month now and I get really good download speeds close to even 70Mbps in some parts of the city. The lowest I got was 5 Mbps in an area with poor coverage.
GAME STORM
Pokemon Go is a free location-based augmented reality game which has got the entire world going crazy over catching Pokemon or virtual creatures within the game. The game employs the user’s GPS location and shows the nearest stops using data from Google maps. Then by using the phone’s camera, the creatures are constructed on the screen and you have to throw the Poke ball to capture them.
The game is published by The Pokémon Company, part of which is held by Nintendo and has become a global phenomenon. While most games make you stay in one place, Pokemon Go actually does the opposite and you have to keep moving on the map to progress. Players should be careful of their surroundings as there have been reports of accidents. The game is available on both iOS and Android and is expected to release in India officially in the next few weeks but already has a huge following.
A BOT THAT TRACKS FlIGHTS
Facebook had introduced support for Bots in Facebook Messenger few months back and a startup founded by a Stanford and IIM alumni has found a great use for it. You can now track flights in real time, keep your loved ones informed automatically, all inside the Messenger app itself without having to install another app. All you have to do is supply the flight number to the bot and it will give you updates about the progress of the flight. It works for both domestic and international flights. They have plans to even integrate cab booking into the bot itself. The only requirement is that you must have the Facebook Messenger app installed on your phone in order to get alerts. More info at https://www.instalocate.com
(Varun Krishnan is currently Editor-in-Chief of FoneArena.com, a leading technology portal. He can be reached @varunkrish varun at fonearena.com)