Airtel takes on JioPhone, to offer 4G smartphone for Rs 2,899

Cash refund of Rs 1,500 in two tranches makes the effective cost Rs 1,399

Looking to take on Reliance Jio in the handset space, the country’s top telecom operator, Bharti Airtel, has partnered Karbonn Mobiles to offer a 4G smartphone at an “effective price” of Rs 1,399. 

In a dig at Jio’s Rs 1,500 4G-enabled feature phone, the Sunil Bharti Mittal-led company said its smartphone would be made available for the price of a feature phone. Airtel said this was the first of several partnerships it plans with handset manufacturers to bring affordable bundled 4G smartphone options to its customers.

In July, Jio had announced a 4G feature phone for a security deposit of Rs 1,500,