The popular search engine tech giant, Google, has surprised people as it has announced its foray into the feature phone market. After Reliance Jio’s JioPhone, now Google has introduced the WizPhone WP006. This new feature phone by Google will not be a full-fledged smart machine but will merely pair some smart functionalities along with the usual feature phone functions including Google Assistant and voice commands. On the software front, this phone will resemble JioPhone and will boot KaiOS. Not only in software, but the phone will also resemble JioPhone in aesthetics as well.
WizPhone WP006 Comes With $7 Price Tag in Indonesia
It is pretty much clear that this new release by Google and a beginning of new segment highly resembles the moves made by the Mukesh Ambani led telco in India. There are a lot of areas where the JioPhone and the WizPhone WP006 resemble. Whether it is the operating system, design, form factor, or support for latest apps like WhatsApp, there is a hint of uncanny resemblance between the two.
However, for now, Google has not launched the phone in India but has first introduced the device in Indonesia. During the launch in Indonesia, senior Google executive, Scott Huffman, took to the stage and launched the phone at the company's GoogleForIndonesia event. The execs also revealed the price of the phone, which is available for IDR 99,000, translating to about Rs 490 in Indian currency. In dollars, the price of the WizPhone WP006 translates to only $7.
The main highlight of the WizPhone WP006 is that it comes with 4G connectivity similar to the JioPhone and also offers access to applications like WhatsApp. Further, the phone will even come with Google Voice assistant which users will be able to summon by voice commands only.
In a note sent by KaiOS to media, the company remarked, “Google has also been instrumental in this launch by ensuring their digital services operate on the WizPhone via the KaiStore, so consumers have access to a suite of Google apps, including the Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Search. Further, the Google Assistant works in Bahasa Indonesia, bridging the digital divide by allowing users to easily access the internet and apps through voice.”
WizPhone WP006 Specifications and Features
As for the specifications, the WizPhone WP006 debuts with a 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, a screen spanning 2.4-inches, 2MP rear camera and a VGA front camera. The battery on the device is an 1800 mAh one and the processor under the hood is the Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8905 chipset.
Currently, Google has not indicated whether it will launch the WizPhone WP006 in India. Also, the WizPhone WP006 seems to be a device which comes with support from Google and not Google branding. Hence, it’s entirely possible since India has already seen JioPhone with 4G connectivity and similar features, Google might decide to withhold the WizPhone WP006 from India. On the other hand, Google might work hand in hand with Jio, to bring its services on board the JioPhone.
