How to sign up for Reliance Jio and get free data

Reliance finally launched Jio earlier this month, making the 4G service available to everyone in the country. Jio is offering fast data speeds and voice calls through VoLTE, but the main attraction is the Welcome Offer, through which everyone who signs up for the service gets free data until the end of 2016. Considering the SIM itself is being given away for free across retail stores across the country, you should absolutely get on the Jio bandwagon right away.

Here's how you can register for a Reliance Jio SIM and avail free data until the end of the year.

How to register for a Reliance Jio SIM card

If you own a 4G-enabled handset from any of the brands listed below, you can download the MyJio app from the Play Store and get started.

Samsung
Micromax
Xiaomi
Karbonn
Lava
Intex
HTC
LG
Sony
OnePlus
ASUS
Gionee
Lenovo
Motorola
Huawei
Oppo
Vivo
Xolo
Panasonic
Yu
TCL
Alcatel
InFocus
Celkon
Itel
LeEco
Sansui
Videocon

If you're unsure as to how to download MyJio, here's what you need to do:

Open the Play Store from the home screen or app drawer.
Search for MyJio.
Select the three dots at the top right next to the first search result and hit Install.

Once you install MyJio, it's a straightforward process to register for a SIM. Here's the breakdown:

Open MyJio app from the home screen.
Swipe left on the MyJio home screen to access the Jio Welcome Offer section.
Tap on Get Jio SIM.
Fill out your first and last name, enter your current mobile number, and hit the Generate OTP button.
Enter the OTP and tap Submit.
If your phone doesn't have VoLTE, you will be directed to install Jio4GVoice (previously JioJoin), which lets you take VoLTE calls.
Once Jio4GVoice is installed, you'll get a coupon with a unique barcode.
Head back to the MyJio home screen, and select Find a store to find your nearest Reliance Digital.

The preferred method for registration for a Jio SIM is through your Aadhaar card, but if you don't have one, you can take any proof of identity and address. Know that the process will take slightly longer when registering with other forms of ID.

Once you submit your ID, you will receive your brand-new Jio SIM card. A note on availability: given the sheer amount of internet in Jio, SIM cards may not be in stock at all retail locations. Out of the three outlets I visited in my neighborhood in Hyderabad, two stores were already out of SIM cards. In such a scenario, you can still register for a SIM card, but you'll have to wait a while before getting your hands on one.

How to activate Reliance Jio SIM

After you receive your Jio SIM card, you have to activate it. Just insert the SIM card in your phone, wait for the text message that says that the service is ready to be activated, and then dial 1977. You'll hear a confirmation message on the call, and you can get started with using the network following that.

Usually, it takes about ten minutes from the time you've inserted the Jio SIM in your phone to receive the activation message. If it takes more than a day, head back to your local Reliance Digital store to get the issue fixed.

Using Reliance Jio

With your Jio SIM activated, you can enjoy free data and unlimited voice calls. As with all such services, there are a few caveats. Although data is unlimited, 4G usage is limited to 4GB a day, following which it is throttled to 128kbps. That's still a generous offer, all things considered. If you like the content on offer with the Jio apps, know that all bandwidth consumed while streaming live television or viewing on-demand shows will be counted against your daily usage quota.

That said, the speeds offered by Jio are considerable faster than what you get with Airtel or Vodafone, although we'll have to wait a few weeks to see how the network fares with million of new customers downloading content simultaneously.

What's your take?

Did you manage to get a Jio SIM? What are your thoughts on the service? Let us know in the comments below.

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