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Russia's Megafon to sell the iPhone once more and other news from March 7, 2014
Apple has entered into an agreement with Russia's Megafon, which has committed to purchase at least 750,000 iPhones over the next three years. Megafon, which is Russia's second-biggest carrier, signed on in January. In addition, Reuters reports that more than US$28 million will be spent on promotion. Russian carriers, including Megafon, had dropped the iPhone over the past few years, the most recent being Beeline in July 2013. Other news from Friday afternoon includes: iOS app Secret has reportedly raised nearly $10 million in funding from sources including Google Ventures. The latest ComScore data is out, with Apple once again at the top of smartphone makers. Between October 2013 and January, the number of people using an iPhone rose from 40.6% to 41.6%. 51.7% of smartphone users are using Android, but only 26.7% of them have a Samsung phone. Because we love numbers, this report from ProtectCELL claims that those with iPhones are 86% less likely than their Android peers to require a replacement. Samsung has unveiled its competitor to iTunes Radio known as Milk Music that will be targeted to Galaxy devices. And kick back with these features: In 1995 Apple made some promises to educators about the future of technology. Here's what they got right. Fuse Chicken's togoDock and PLUGdock: Variations on a theme of useful 5 Classic PC games begging for the iPad treatment How to create a data recovery external drive
Russia's second-largest carrier resumes selling the iPhone after three-year split
You could say Apple's had a pretty successful six months in Russia. After finally opening a localized version of its online store in June, it's also seen three of the country's biggest operators begin selling the iPhone again. Reuters reports that Megafon, Russia's second-biggest carrier, today became the final provider to resume sales of the fruity smartphones, committing to a three-year deal after almost four years on the sidelines. Last year, MTS, VimpelCom and Megafon reportedly suspended sales following a dispute over unfavorable contract terms, but a relaxation in Apple's distributor sales policy saw two of the three return to the fold by the end of 2013. While the deal isn't likely to drastically boost Apple's small share of Russia's smartphone market (at least right away), competition can only be a good thing -- especially given the high pricing on Apple's online store.
Why did Russian carriers ditch the iPhone?
These days, you can walk into any of the big national mobile carriers and walk out with an iPhone. But, as Fortune reports, things are quite different in Russia. The country's three largest wireless companies - MTS, VimpelCom (through its Beeline brand), and MegaFon - now refuse to stock the devices, instead pointing customers to comparable Android or Windows Phone handsets. So is this some sort of anti-Apple conspiracy? Not quite - It's all about dollars and cents. Under the country's mobile phone licensing guidelines, carriers cannot offer the same type of subsidized pricing that the U.S. and Europe are used to. Combine that with steep import charges and taxes and the iPhone quickly becomes extremely unaffordable. Even if you don't take carrier subsidization into account, Apple's smartphone costs quite a bit more for those living in Russia. For example, while you can score an unlocked 16GB iPhone 5 for $649 in the U.S., that same device will set you back the equivalent of $928 in Russia. But that doesn't mean it's impossible to find an iPhone in Russia; Apple recently launched a Russian version of its online store last month, and the rumor mill points to brick and mortar Apple Store retailers popping up before the 2014 hits.
Samsung Galaxy S III to become Russia's first LTE phone, reach 17 cities on December 20th
LTE has been available in Russia for some time, but it's largely been the province of modems and tablets until now. Samsung wants 4G to be more pocketable in St. Petersburg -- it's launching the quad-core Galaxy S III LTE as the country's first LTE smartphone. The flagship should reach 17 Russian cities on December 20th through local carrier MegaFon at a premium price of 29,990 rubles ($973) off-contract. Those who do jump in early on will get up to 100Mbps downstream and the promise of VoLTE calls once testing wraps up. And before you ask: while the iPhone 5 is arriving in Russia a week earlier, on December 14th, there's no indication that it will serve up LTE. Russian 4G networks run on the 2.6GHz band that the iPhone 5 doesn't support despite its many frequencies; the Galaxy S III should be the first to put its LTE to full use in the region.
Intel brings Medfield to Russia with the MegaFon Mint
The Intel-powered mobile machine has been slowly picking up pace this year. Now, the chip-maker has signed up a new partner in the form of Russian operator MegaFon. So, it looks like we might see another (and we must say familiar looking) network-branded Android Medfield phone in the form of the MegaFon Mint. The spec-sheet, again, poses no surprises, with the same 1.6GHz Z2460 chip 1GB of RAM, 4-inch screen and 8-megapixel camera only further enhancing the sense of deja vu. What will be unique, however, is the price, which looks set at 17,990 Rubles (about $565), available from today.
Russian carrier gives $5,000 vacation to its most data hungry customer
Use more data, win more prizes. It may sound counterintuitive, but that's exactly what Russian operator MegaFon is offering to its subscribers, as part of a curious 3G promotion. It all began back in November, when the provider announced a rather straightforward contest: customers who downloaded the most data with their 3G modems would be awarded prizes worth up to one million rubles (about $33,000), including a $5,000 vacation. According to Russian news site C News, MegaFon launched the campaign in order to showcase the expanse of its data network, which apparently covers more than 80 percent of northwestern Russia and offers speeds of up to 21Mbps. The promotion came to an official close on January 31st, with the coronation of a lucky winner who, over the course of a single week, managed to scarf down 419GB of data on the company's 3G network. MegaFon didn't offer usage statistics on the second and third place winners, nor did it say what they won for their efforts, if you wanna call them that.
Russia's major mobile operators join hands for unified LTE rollout
Ringo and co. said it best, and now Beeline, Megafon, MTS and Rostelekom are getting a little help from their friends. Er, friend. Or maybe it's the other way around? At any rate, the first four have just signed a deal with Yota to build out a nationwide LTE network that'll work across the board. Rather than forcing each operator to do their own thing, the four in question will now have the option to buy 25 percent stakes in Yota; according to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, this unified effort will enable Russia's economy to reap the benefits of a widespread 4G network while other nations (ahem, America) fight to see whether it'll be WiMAX or LTE taking the lead. If you'll recall, Yota was actually one of the first carriers on the planet to serve up commercial 4G, but last year it decided to make the switch from WiMAX to the suddenly popular LTE. The goal here is to have LTE in 180 cities with a total population of more than 70 million citizens by 2014, and we're told that those situated on Little Diomede may actually be the first to get LTE in Alaska. Kidding. Maybe.
Sluggish iPhone sales could lead to stiff fines for Russian operators
See folks, this is the kind of mess you end up with after you gleefully do a deal with the devil. According to a roundup of reports over at Unwired View, three of Russia's major mobile operators could be looking at massive (we're talking hundreds of millions of bucks) fines if they can't sell through their iPhone allotments, and unless a significant market shift happens within the next few months, that situation seems remarkably unlikely. We're told that Vimpelcom pledged to sell 1.5 million iPhones within two years, while Megafon committed to 1 million and MTS the same. Today, just 900,000 iPhones have been imported to Russia, with over half entering the country via grey market channels; we'll let you figure out the math there, but it ain't pretty for Russia's carriers. Of course, we're not shocked in the least -- after getting burnt by a bootable-but-not-usable iPhone over there, are you seriously going to give Apple another chance to win you over?[Thanks, Staska]
MegaFon confirms butch iPhone deal for Russia
While "market sources" had already spoken of a deal with MTS to bring the iPhone 3G to Russia, local carrier MegaFon has stepped-to, ex-KGB-like and confirmed its own deal. In a terse, presumably shirt-less announcement made while fishing, Russia's third largest carrier said, "The sales of iPhone in Russia will start this year." The spokesman then shot and wrestled this endangered Tiger to the ground as proof of MegaFon's superior 3G network.