RUSSIA has tabled a desperate plan to create its own Android smartphone, following an exodus of technology companies.
It comes just days after the US Department of Commerce banned consumer technology exports over the price of $300 to Russia.
1
The decision from the US forms part of increasing global sanctions on Russia, as a result of its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has now setting aside 10billion rubles (£110.4million) with the goal of snagging 10% of the consumer phone market in just three years, Wired reported.
It’s going to take some sharp elbows for Russia to even get close to its goal.
In the year since the war began, Russia has watched a long stream of businesses exit the country, such as Cisco, IBM, TSMC, Nokia and Ericsson.
This includes the two of the world’s biggest smartphone companies – Apple and Samsung.
While Google no longer offers paid apps or updates to Russian users, free services, such as Gmail, Maps, Play, and YouTube are still available in the country.
It means the Android device could make use of Google’s free apps to draw in users.
Chinese smartphone company Huawei has struggled to compete outside of China due to a lack of access to Google services.
Most read in Tech
The handset doesn’t officially have a name yet, but will be built by one of Russia’s largest IT firms, the National Computer Corporation.
The company expects 100,000 smartphones and tablets by the end of this year.
But it’s difficult to see how it will be able to compete on price, considering Russia’s strained access to a lot of the supply chain for consumer electronics.
Onlookers say it forms part of Russia’s ambition for digital sovereignty, after the country pledged “unprecedented” amounts of funding to the electronics industry.
While others say it is merely a PR stunt.
Either way, there are likely to be restrictions on their sale in the UK, US and much of Europe.
Best Phone and Gadget tips and hacks
Looking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features within social media apps? We have you covered…
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]
