List of all the apps you can use on JioPhone
Reliance Jio's JioPhone runs on the KaiOS software. The JioPhone is hugely popular as it is a feature phone, priced at just Rs. 1,500 but comes with 4G connectivity. However, it runs only limited apps since they have to be compatible on the KaiOS platform. Here are all the major apps you care about that are available on JioPhone.
What is KaiOS?
KaiOS is Linux-based, light on resources, and designed to work on feature phones without a touch-screen. Although the OS was known in phone circles for some years now, the JioPhone made it truly mainstream in India.
Facebook gets native KaiOS support
Facebook has reportedly rolled out a new version of its mobile app which has been developed especially for the KaiOS platform. With native app support, JioPhone users can now access all popular features including videos, links to external content, News Feed, and photos. The new Facebook app supports push notification functionality and is also optimized to accommodate the JioPhone's cursor function.
The only feature phone with Google Assistant
Google has developed a special version of the Google Assistant for the JioPhone that is compatible with KaiOS. The voice-enabled digital assistant can make calls, read texts, open apps, search the web, play songs, and read recipes, among other things. However, Google Assistant on JioPhone does not support its Actions functionality that allows the app to partner with third-party apps and services like BookMyShow.
Expect WhatsApp to come on JioPhone soon
Earlier, WhatsApp was spotted on JioPhone as the chat app seemed to have beta-rolled out a native KaiOS version. However, WhatsApp has still not officially launched on the JioPhone. Once that happens, users' JioPhone experience will instantly become more customer-friendly. Notably, the popular app's roll out on KaiOS indicates that it thinks of it as a promising technology.
JioPhone's official JioStore comes with a variety of apps
The JioPhone comes preloaded with the Jio suite of apps that include JioMusic, JioCinema, HelloJio, JioGames, JioTv, JioShare, JioVideocall, and JioXpress (for news). The official store on the JioPhone is JioStore. There is also a browser app on the JioPhone. Reliance Jio has also rolled out its own MyJio app on the platform for easy recharging from Jio's telecom network.
YouTube, Twitter in the offing?
The JioPhone has also been spotted running the YouTube app, however, there is no official confirmation on the same. At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 in Barcelona last February, KaiOS had announced that it had started supporting the Twitter app as well.
