iPhone weak sales in Russia
During first three months of official iPhone sales in Russia there were sold no more than 120 - 180 thousand devices. According to some analytics, during 4Q there were shipped even less - only 89,000 iPhone 3G devices. Taking into account that the three largest operators in Russia obliged to buy 3.5 mln iPhones from Apple in the next three years, 1.5 mln of the phones go to VimpelCom (to be purchased in two years) and 1 mln goes to MTS (to be purchased in three years), reported anonymous operators' managers. According to MegaFon's report for 3Q08, the operator is to buy 1 mln iPhones from Apple during two-years timeframe. Therefore, to avoid losses since the fourth quarter 2008 VimpelCom must sell 187,500 iPhones each quarter, MTS – 83,300 iPhones, and MegaFon – 125,000.
Russian newspaper Vedomosti states that the main reason of low sales of iPhone in Russia is the fact that many consumers already own handset brought to the country and sold illegally (about 500 thousand) before the official launch of iPhone in Russia. Besides, retailers don't find it profitable to sell iPhones because of the fixed prices. Spokesperson of Telefon.RU store Ludmila Ignatyeva confirms this assumption, adding that December sales volume of Nokia 5800 XpressMusic which price markup is higher was practically the same as iPhone's.
В© Oxana Vassilyeva