Apple launches online store in Russia, product prices likely to drop

Consumers who are interested in buying Apple products, and live in St. Petersburg and Moscow, can do so, thanks to Apple opening its first online store in Russia.

In explaining the impact that this move can have, Danila Vaskevich, director general of Bely Veter Tsifrovoi, says, “Samsung and Sony have been working on direct contracts for a long time. If Apple joins them, the prices will be more affordable and the market more civilized.”

Experts believe that with the launch of the online store, it won’t be long before Apple sets up a brick-and-mortar store in Russia as well. These events have been set in motion ever since it was reported that the Cupertino company was unhappy with its third-party distribution network and decided to take matters into its own hands.

With preparations beginning in August 2012 by registering “Apple Rus”, Vitaly Morozko has been nominated as its director general, after serving as Apple’s local legal advisor. Also, Apple Rus will focus on distributing their products in the aforementioned cities while three of their newly-signed distributors will use their reach to market Apple’s products in other regions.

Still, it is unclear when Russia will see the first Apple Store even if it does have an office that specializes in marketing as well as digital sales. Experts believe that this depends solely on the success of the online store that was just launched.

It was not long ago that Apple expanded the iTunes Store to Russia, and its President visited the late Steve Jobs at his headquarters in Cupertino.