Reliance Jio opens JioPC cloud PC service to all internet users in India

In short: Reliance Jio has expanded its JioPC subscription so any internet user in India can stream a cloud-based PC to an older computer.

What happened

Reliance Jio, led by Mukesh Ambani, is opening its JioPC service to people who do not use Jio for broadband or mobile service. Until now, it was tied more closely to Jio’s own connections. Now it is sold as a standalone subscription for anyone with internet access in India.

JioPC works by streaming a virtual PC from Jio’s data centers to your existing computer. Think of it like watching a movie on your TV, except instead of a movie, you are “watching” and controlling a full computer that runs somewhere else. Jio says this can help computers as old as eight years handle modern tasks, including some AI apps, without new hardware.

The company’s plans include options with up to eight virtual CPUs (the “brains” of a computer), 16GB of memory, and 1TB of storage. Pricing starts at ₹1,000 (about $11) for two months. A 12-month plan costs ₹4,000 (around $42) for 8GB of memory and 500GB storage, or ₹5,000 (about $53) for 16GB and 1TB.

Why it matters

In India, people are keeping PCs longer, often five to six years for consumers and small businesses, according to IDC. A service like JioPC could offer a cheaper way to get more computing power without buying a new laptop or desktop. The tradeoff is that it depends on a stable internet connection, and it may compete with low-cost refurbished PCs.

Source: TechCrunch AI