Russia

Russian government dumps iPads for Samsung tablets

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Russia's telecoms minister Nikolai Nikiforov told news agencies yesterday that government officials for the country recently traded in their iPads for Samsung tablets. Reporters spotted the new devices at a cabinet meeting, and the minister explained that the changeover was due to security concerns.

"Some of the information at government meetings is confidential in nature," he said, "and these devices fully meet these demands and have gone through the strictest system of certification." And the timing of the switch is certainly interesting, considering what's going on at the Russia/Ukraine border...

Russia’s second-largest carrier now resuming iPhone sales after 3-year hiatus

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 27, 2014

Good news for Apple fans in Russia: the country's second-largest wireless carrier has now resumed iPhone sales in the 143 million people market. MegaFon stopped selling the iconic smartphone three years ago, in 2010, citing Apple's rather stringent sales policy and volume requirements.

The company hadn't offered the device for three years. Fortunately, the two sides have now come to senses as Apple appears to have softened its stance after seeing its smartphone share in Russia drop to single-digits...

Apple’s Russia push slowed by pricey iPhones

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 25, 2013

Although Apple today launched the iPhone in an additional 35 global markets (with more to come next Friday), including Russia, its flagship iPhone 5s remains too expensive for all but the most wealthiest. The iPhone 5c, costing just $99 in subsidized markets such as the U.S., can cost nearly $800 in Russia, unsubsidized.

Apple's goal of competing globally is being hampered by pricing centered on carrier subsidies. In countries such as Russia, India and elsewhere where subsidies are not allowed, the cost of an iPhone can equal a month's salary - or more. As a result, Samsung's cheaper Android phones control most smartphone sales...

Russian carriers that dropped Apple in 2012 now want it back

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 23, 2013

Two of the three Russian carriers that dropped the iPhone in 2012 now want it back. MTS and Vimplecom announced Tuesday they will begin selling Apple's new iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s starting Friday.

Vimplecom (which owns Russia's No. 3 carrier Beeline) said it signed a contract with Apple for the new handsets. MTS, on the other hand, will use a distributor to get the smartphones. Both Vimplecom and MTS stopped iPhone sales last year, complaining Apple's stringent contracts created "harsh conditions"...

Apple execs take a trip to Russia to improve iPhone distribution in the country

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 29, 2016

There's a trouble in Russia so Apple dispatched its high-ranked executives to revisit how the company sells iPhones in the country, according to a new report. There's no denying that Apple has dropped the ball in the important 143 million people market. As we told you recently, the last of Russia’s big-three carriers stopped selling the iPhone.

Russian carriers complain about too onerous conditions, leaving it up to resellers and Apple’s new Russia online store to meet demand. With the new iPhones now looming on the horizon, Apple is now reportedly re-thinking its strategy in the country. That's good news because Russia is part of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China), a group of emerging markets that are expected to overtake the United States as the world's top smartphone sellers by 2018...

Here’s why Apple dropped the ball in Russia

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Russia is one of the BRIC countries mentioned alongside Brazil, India and China as areas where demand for smartphones is increasing rapidly. Yet, recently, the last of Russia's big-three carriers stopped selling the iPhone, leaving it up to resellers and Apple's new online store to meet demand.

Why are Russian carriers saying no to the iconic handset - and adopting competitors, such as Samsung and Microsoft? The answer could be as simple as 1-2-3...

Russia’s #3 carrier Beeline drops iPhone over ‘harsh conditions’

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 12, 2013

Looks like Apple's just been dealt a major blow over in Russia as another carrier reportedly quit selling iPhones. Vimplecom-owned Beeline, the nation's third-largest wireless carrier, has allegedly cut its ties with Apple. The firm will not renew its iPhone distribution agreement over too "harsh conditions", the story goes.

While the move doesn't mean the iPhone isn't popular in the country (just ask the local elite and celebrities), it does leave Apple without a major carrier presence there. Russia's two biggest carriers MTS and Megafon stopped selling the handset earlier.

Both telcos criticized Apple's demanding requirements: committing to large-volume purchases, generous subsidies and advance payment...

BRIC nations to overtake US as top smartphone markets by 2018

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 2, 2013

So-called BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are set to dominate smartphone market share by 2018, comprising four of the top seven markets, according to research released Tuesday. As a result, smartphone shipments to the US and Western Europe are forecast to drop to 33 percent of the smartphone market share, down from the current 39 percent.

At the same time, the top five countries in 2018 will account for just over half - 51 percent - of smartphone shipments globally. BRIC nations will account for a third of the shipments, according to ABI Research. The changing landscape means smartphone makers will need to keep pace...

Apple launches online retail store in Russia

Cody Lee ∙ June 26, 2013

It's been nearly a year since we heard of Apple's plans to begin direct sales in Russia, and this week it's finally putting that plan into action. The company has opened a web store in the country, allowing consumers to order iPhones, iPads and more.

Believe it or not, this is actually the first time that folks in Russia will be able to order products directly from Apple. Previously, the company's devices were only available via third-party retailers, as it doesn't have any physical stores in the country...

Apple TV hack enables Russian video service, no jailbreak required

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2013

Remember a recent hack which cleverly tricks Apple TV's stock Trailers app into streaming video from the popular Plex media player, no jailbreak required? Apparently, the same trickery can be exploited in order to enable access to certain online video services. A Russian blog today spread word of a very similar hack that lets owners of the second and third-generation Apple TV stream content from Russia's UnliMovie digital TV service, directly through the set-top box's Trailers app...

Apple replaces Google with Yandex on Safari in iOS 7 in several countries

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 11, 2013

When Apple’s SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue during yesterday's keynote said that Siri in iOS 7 will integrate Bing web search results, everyone went silent. While Google is still the default search engine in Safari, Apple will pre-install the Yandex search engine in Russia and several other countries, a Russian newspaper reported Tuesday. The development could signal Apple's intention to gradually distance itself from Google search...

Apple allegedly files for iWatch trademark in Russia

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple reportedly has filed in Russia to trademark 'iWatch', the supposed name of the rumored wearable computing device. However, some in the tech media are skeptical, suggesting the report in a Russian newspaper follows none of Apple's usual steps preceding a product launch, such as in the case of the iPad.

The newspaper Izvestia this week reported Apple filed for the trademark under the 9th and 14th classes of the International Classification of Goods and Services. The report asserts Apple could face competition from similar local products. However, one Apple blogs has failed to find the trademark registered with the official Russian Federal Services for Intellectual Property...