Yandex, the Russian search giant, is launching today a global partnership program for Android handset manufacturers and telecom operators, covering 15 countries.
The move is coming as Yandex is seeking ways to get more traction in mobile, where it is loosing its leadership to Google on the Russian market.
Manufacturers of Android handsets and telecom operators are invited to preinstall Yandex’s proprietary products, Yandex Browser and Yandex Launcher, “to achieve device differentiation, enhance end user experience and gain additional income through its ad revenue sharing model,” as stated by the company.
Yandex says that its mobile products can be easily customized in accordance with partners’ brand identity requirements.
The Russian company claims to have already secured partnership with such companies as Fly, LAVA, Mobile TeleSystems, Multilaser, Posh Mobile, Wileyfox and ZTE. Thus Yandex products are or will be made available in Europe, India, Latin America and Africa.
“Device manufacturers often have to choose between developing in-house software at a huge overhead cost or sacrificing product differentiation and additional revenue. Some OEMs pre-install as many apps as possible. Unfortunately, this has a negative effect on the user experience and is counterproductive to their brands in the long-term,” explained Artem Fokin, Vice President for International Business Development at Yandex.
“Our software and artificial intelligence technology is aimed at shaking up the market and helping our partners overcome these challenges, reduce customer churn and increase profit margins,” he continued.
A NASDAQ-listed Russian Internet company, Yandex is still number one on the local search market, in spite of the recent strengthening of Google. Beyond its initial focus on online search tools, the company now defines its mission as “building user-centric products and services powered by artificial intelligence.”
