Reliance Jio launches ‘Hello Jio’ voice assistant, web version of JioCinema

Reliance Jio now allows its subscribers to watch content from JioCinema and JioTV on their PCs and mobile browsers.

Here’s everything you need to know about Reliance Jio’s new features. (REUTERS)

Reliance Jio without fanfare introduced two new features for its subscribers.

Both multimedia services are now available on desktops and mobile browser. The move is expected to help Reliance Jio increase traction for its Jio-exclusive services, especially those who don't want to download an additional application.

Users can watch JioCinema or JioTV content on PCs by signing in through their Jio number or Jio ID. Both the platforms have the same look and feel as their mobile counterparts. They also retain core categories and features of the main application such as allowing users to switch between SD and HD channels, reports TelecomTalk.info.

Apart from the web version of JioCinema and JioTV, Reliance Jio has introduced "Hello Jio" voice assistant within its MyJio application. As the name implies, the voice assistant allows users to browse the application through voice commands, similar to Google Assistant and Apple's Siri.

According to TelecomTalk.info, Hello Jio voice assistant works both in Hindi and English languages. Though unlike Google Assistant and Apple Siri, you have to manually launch Hello Jio assistant, but performs basic functions such as opening applications, making voice calls or shoot text messages, the website added. It appears that Hello Jio has limited functionalities, mostly focused on in-app features.

Launch of Hello Jio voice assistant comes after Google announced that it will be building a new version of its Assistant for the operator's ultra low-cost smart feature phone, JioPhone. It is worth noting that JioPhone already comes with a voice-based browser.

"This will help bring the benefits of the Google Assistant to millions of first time internet users on the JioPhone with an intuitive voice-based user interface, along with a rich set of data services. The Assistant can help make phone calls, text, play music and videos, navigate and search the internet, and access other apps and services," Caesar Sengupta, VP, Next Billion Users team said earlier this month.