Mobile & Telecom

Russian programmers launch neural network-based food discovery app in US cities

October 3, 2016

After Prisma, the much-hyped mobile app that instantly transforms pictures into artwork, and Artisto, a similar app for videos, Russian programmers are affirming their particular talent in developing technologies inspired by neural networks. This time, this approach is being applied to food recommendations with ‘Borsch,’ a new mobile service launched over the past weeks in …

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Yandex.Taxi launches in Georgia — before Ukraine, Estonia and Latvia

March 2, 2017

Yesterday Yandex.Taxi, the taxi booking service of Russian search giant Yandex, announced its launch in the Georgian capital Tbilissi. The service, which involves 200 cars from 11 taxi parks, is available in Georgian, Russian and English languages. Launched in 2011, Yandex.Taxi already operates in 30 cities of Russia as well as in Minsk (Belarus), Almaty (Kazakhstan) …

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Russia files case against Apple on allegations of price-fixing

August 9, 2016

Russia’s Federal Anti-monopoly Service (FAS) has filed a case against US tech giant Apple on allegations of price-fixing. A number of retailers are continuing to sell the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, and other models at the same price as when the phones were released in October 2015, the FAS claim. Some 16 Russian companies are alleged to be involved in the case, including MTS, M.Video, Beeline, Eldorado, Euroset, Media …

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Russian mobile Internet users in 2016

July 27, 2016

Approximately 19% of Russians only use their mobile phone to access the Internet, compared with 52% of Russians who use both computers and mobile devices to access the Internet. Computers are still a popular way for Russians to access the Internet, but mobile devices offer convenient and affordable access always, compared to a stationary desktop …

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Ted Kim of London Trust Media: “Russians will be forced, by their own government, to learn about privacy-protecting technology”

July 16, 2016

Last week Private Internet Access (PIA), a VPN provider based in California, announced that it was suspending all operations in Russia following server seizure by the Russian authorities and due to an ever-more restrictive legal environment. Under a controversial “anti-terrorist” legislation signed by President Putin in early July, Internet and telecom players will soon be required to store the content and the …

Ted Kim of London Trust Media: “Russians will be forced, by their own government, to learn about privacy-protecting technology” Read More

The end of privacy: A hard look at FindFace

July 19, 2016

The FindFace mobile app, which makes it possible to find a random person’s social-media page on Vkontakte after taking a photo of them in the street, has made news headlines for its use in experimental art projects and bullying women who appear in pornography. Daniil Turovsky, special correspondent for independent online publication Meduza, sat down with the authors …

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American VPN provider leaves Russia after server seizure and adoption of anti-privacy legislation

February 20, 2017

Private Internet Access (PIA), a US-based VPN provider whose users may anonymously visit webpages and bypass site blockings, has announced that has discontinued its Russian gateways and will no longer be doing business in the region. PIA seems to be the first international player to stop activities in the country after the adoption of Russia’s latest “anti-terrorist” legislation. Under this …

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Sberbank to launch MVNO for mobile banking

July 11, 2016

Sberbank, Russia’s national savings bank, has founded a new subsidiary which will act as an MVNO, Vedomosti reported last week. Dubbed ‘SB-Telecom,’ the new company will provide telecom services to companies within the Sberbank group as well as to their end customers. The new company has yet to receive a license from state regulator Roskomnadzor. According to the …

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Russia’s Sberbank participated in Uber’s latest equity round

March 2, 2017

SBT Venture Capital, the venture arm of Russian state-controlled savings bank Sberbank, appears to be among the participants in Uber’s latest equity funding round. Led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, this $3.5 billion deal took place this spring, valuing the US startup at $62.5 billion. SBT’s participation was revealed by BNE Intellinews, an online …

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Russian parliament passes “Big Brother law,” Internet and telecom industry expects hard times

February 20, 2017

In late June, the Russian parliament approved controversial amendments to Russia’s anti-terrorist legislation. Drafted by lawmakers Irina Yarovaya and Viktor Ozerov, the new legislation may have deep consequences for people living and using digital networks in Russia. The amendments are yet to be signed by President Putin [which he did on July 7 update]. A substantial part of the …

Russian parliament passes “Big Brother law,” Internet and telecom industry expects hard times Read More

Russian parliament approves ‘Google Tax’ for foreign app stores

January 30, 2017

Russia’s Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, has approved a law requiring foreign companies to pay value added tax (VAT) of 18 percent on online content, the Interfax news agency reported Wednesday. The bill, nicknamed the “Google tax law”, will also require companies who distribute or sell online applications, games, music, or other content …

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Pure players and mobile operators shake up Russian banking sector

June 23, 2016

Russia’s banking sector is being shaken up by new entrants armed with the latest technology, but the process is proving anything but smooth for some of these pioneers. Just months ago, as reported by East-West Digital News, Otkrytie, a major Russian bank, announced the acquisition of mobile banking startup Rocketbank. Almost simultaneously, Instabank, another mobile banking startup with a strong social …

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