Russia's Megafon Signs Multi-Year iPhone Distribution Deal with Apple

[MacRumors]

Russian wireless carrier Megafon announced today that it has signed a three-year deal with Apple to sell the iPhone, reports Reuters. Megafon first sold the iPhone in 2008 and subsequently halted sales of the handset after it and other Russian carriers could not sell the volume of handsets required by Apple.

Apple allegedly loosened its requirements for partner carriers, which opened the door for the Megafon deal. Competing carrier Vimpelcom signed a similar, direct deal with Apple in October 2013 that allowed the carrier to start selling the iPhone 5s and 5c. Among Russia's top three carriers, market leader MTS is the remaining holdout, buying its iPhone handsets from third-party distributors instead of Apple directly.

Apple's iPhone has a 20 percent market share of the smartphone market in Russia based on revenue and a nine percent market share based on units sold in 2013. Besides carriers, Apple also sells the iPhone in Russia through its online store and electronics resellers.


Article Link: Russia's Megafon Signs Multi-Year iPhone Distribution Deal with Apple

 

[justperry]

MR: Seems nobody cares about this/Russia, not one single post before this one

 

[anomie]

I think it's not "this article", but macrumors is not very popular I'm Russia yet

 

[osx11]

Just a stupid question: Why do carriers have to sign deals to sell a particular phone? Or is this just with iPhones?

I now this may be a naive question, but I'm seriously curious and don't really understand why this is always the case.

 

[Flood123]

Side note:
Anyone else think this Russian companies logo looks a tad like the LG logo.

 

[Gasu E.]

Just a stupid question: Why do carriers have to sign deals to sell a particular phone? Or is this just with iPhones?

They don't need to sign a deal to sell the iPhone. They need to sign a deal to get iPhones from Apple at a discount. They can otherwise choose to buy through a distributor, typically at a higher price.

 

[osx11]

They don't need to sign a deal to sell the iPhone. They need to sign a deal to get iPhones from Apple at a discount. They can otherwise choose to buy through a distributor, typically at a higher price.

Thanks, makes sense!

 

[Mactendo]

MR: Seems nobody cares about this/Russia, not one single post before this one

Seems Russia doesn't care about this article/macrumours and comments this news at some other place.

 

[eXan]

Something tells me Megafon & co will still sell the phone at a regular price and pocket the higher margin they now have

 

[Tim0]

Current Megafon prices are a bit lower than Russian Apple online store offer: the difference is 1000 RUR for 4s and 5s (any option), 3000 RUR for 5c 32GB and 2000 RUR for 5c 16GB (1 RUR = 0.029 USD). Still comes up to $840 for 5s 16Gb though.