Motorola to open Moscow retail store
We were a little dubious when Nokia opened a branded retail store in Moscow a few months ago. But the store must be doing something for Nokia, since competitor Motorola is about to open its own Moscow outlet, according to The Wall Street Journal. In fact, both companies are on the verge of a major retail binge, according to sources. The Journal says that Nokia expects to open as many as 18 stores in the next 18 months, with likely locations to include New York, London and Paris. Meanwhile, at least one blog has reported that Moto may add retail locations throughout Asia. Whether or not the stores actually help the companies sell phones may be irrelevant; as Apple has shown with its large retail expansion, a branded presence can be an invaluable marketing tool.
