New Delhi: Reliance Retail will start the second phase of booking for JioPhone post Diwali after completing delivery of about six million mobile devices that were booked in August, an industry source said.

"The second phase of JioPhone booking will start after Diwali. Likely from October-end or November first week," a Reliance Retail channel partner said.

About six million Jiophones were booked by people in just three days when the company opened bookings of the 4G feature phone from August 24 in the first phase. Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani had announced that the 4G phone will be effectively free for users, but to prevent misuse of the scheme JioPhone buyers will need to pay one-time fully refundable deposit of Rs1500. The entire money will be refunded to customer after usage of the phone for 36 months.

The company has further relaxed refund scheme. Under the new condition set by Jio for the users, handset buyers can get refund of Rs500 if they return the device in the first year, provided they have made recharge of Rs 1500 during the year. Similarly, on return of the phone in the second year, the customer will get refund of Rs1000 and in the third year entire amount of Rs1500 will be refunded.

Reliance Retail started delivery of JioPhones in small towns from Navratri festival. "The shipments started in metro cities from Saturday. The target is to complete all shipments around Diwali," the channel partner said.

PTI