Electronics maker Apple expects to sell 3.5 million iPhones in Russia in the next two years, according to market sources familiar with new deals being struck by Russian carriers. Despite no official availability, up to 600,000 of the popular mobile devices have already flooded into Russia through unauthorized sales; now, at least two carriers have signed an official framework agreement with the manufacturer and one more deal is expected next week.
Sources claim that Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), Russia"s largest carrier, has already agreed with Apple to sell iPhones, probably starting in October, and rivals Vimpelcom and MegaFon are in talks with Apple. "Total sales by the Big Three carriers will amount to 3.5 million iPhones within the next two years," said Eldar Murtazin, an analyst with Moscow-based Mobile Research Group, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.