For the first time since 2010, Russia’s second-largest carrier, OAO MegaFon, will resume selling the iPhone. The hiatus was due to unfavourable terms offered by Apple.
Bloomberg reports that the Russian billionaire controller of MegaFon, Alisher Usmanov, has inked a three-year deal with Apple, as the iPhone maker has relaxed its sales policy in the country. Or maybe the high demand for the iPhone has contributed to the deal, as well.
Fact is, none of Russia’s three big telecom players have been selling the iPhone since mid-2013, due to the unfavourable terms offered by Apple. Last September, however, the Cupertino-based company changed its policy and started selling the iPhone though computer wholesalers such as Merlion and DiHouse.
The result was seen immediately: Russia’s largest carrier, OAO Mobile TeleSystems, and No. 3. player, VimpelCom, resumed iPhone sales a month later. Now MegaFon joins the competition, and contributes to the growth of Apple’s market share in the country.
