WhatsApp finally comes to JioPhone
According to reports, WhatsApp has been finally spotted on Reliance Jio's JioPhone that runs on the KaiOS software. The JioPhone had instantly shot to fame due to its affordable pricing of Rs. 1,500 and latest features, but was missing the popular chat app because of WhatsApp's unavailability on the KaiOS platform. However, now the app seems to have beta-rolled out a native KaiOS version.
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. Now it is also being used by companies like Nokia and Alcatel for their Nokia 8110 and OneTouch Flip Go phones, respectively.
KaiOS also supports Facebook, Google Assistant, Twitter
In the Mobile World Congress (MWC) this year, KaiOS had announced that it had started supporting mainstream applications like Facebook, Google Assistant, and Twitter. Further, Reliance Jio rolled out its own Jio app on the platform. Thus, essentially, users were only left waiting for WhatsApp on KaiOS to make their JioPhone experience more customer-friendly.
WhatsApp doesn't want to be on BlackBerry OS, Symbian S40
Earlier, WhatsApp had clearly stated that it wanted to cut down costs by backing out from less engaging platforms like Windows Mobile, Symbian S40 platforms, and the Blackberry OS. The company has since stopped developing the app for these platforms. WhatsApp's roll out on KaiOS indicates that it thinks of it as a promising technology.
