iPhone share on Russian market to halve by end of 2024 - Minister Shadayev

MOSCOW. May 18 (Interfax) - Russian Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev forecasts that the iPhone's share on the Russian market will halve by the end of 2024.

"The Digital Development Ministry has a forecast: the share of devices, smart phones and iPhones on the Russian market will halve by the end of 2024. Clearly, this is a matter of service convenience, transactions, and the ability to download applications, etc.," Shadayev said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

Due to the limited architecture, users will be shifting to the Android platform "if the latter remains open," he said.

In turn, VK head Vladimir Kiriyenko said in response to a question as to whether an application store for Apple products might be launched that the option was not currently being discussed.

"It is possible to install applications on Apple devices but this is a work-intensive process that looks like a customized solution, a crutch. First of all, we want to design convenient solutions for Android users, while we are not considering such an option for Apple products at this point," Kiriyenko said.

The share of Android is much bigger than that of Apple on the Russian market, he said.