When Russia adopted amendments to the Consumer Rights Protection Law, adding a rule obliging smartphone manufacturers to install software of domestic developers on branded smartphones, no one was particularly surprised at this. No, of course, the thematic media immediately fanned a real drama out of this, citing Apple as an example of the force that is likely to resist the 'revelry' and 'arbitrariness' of the authorities. However, Android never had much of a problem with this, since many vendors already supplied their phones with applications popular with local users. Therefore, the official consent Xiaomi to pre-install Russian software was quite expected.
Xiaomi is quite loyal to the idea of installing local software
The Russian office Xiaomi confirmed that the company will pre-install software from domestic developers on its smartphones, as required by law. Representatives Xiaomi noted that the company is committed to complying with all the norms of Russian legislation, and if the need to preinstall additional software arises, it will install it online. Moreover, Xiaomi, like Samsung, already has a similar experience, so the entry into force of the law on Russian software will not have much impact on its activities.
Russian software on Xiaomi
Russian software will appear on smartphones soon Xiaomi
Xiaomi has long been practicing installing software from local developers on their devices. That is why smartphones intended for sale in China come with one set of software, and those that are officially being brought to Russia come with another. It’s not even that some types of software in the Middle Kingdom are prohibited at the legislative level, but that the company seeks to offer its users the most relevant applications that will actually be used, and not idle, taking up space.
Despite the fact that the law on Russian software has already been adopted, the Government is still working on it. The key figure in this process is the Federal Antimonopoly Service, which is called upon to ensure that explanations to the law and subsidiary rules clarifying the starting points do not impede the development of competition. It is for this reason that the anti-monopoly authorities refused to compile a list of specific applications that manufacturers will have to install, prescribing only their types.
What applications will be installed in Russia
The result was quite expected and natural. The FAS decided to pre-install search applications, clients of social networks and instant messengers, navigation services, antiviruses, as well as the State Services application and the Mir Pay payment service. Many did not believe in the appearance of the latter on this list until the last, but given the potentially widespread distribution in the future of the cards of the MIR payment system, which are now used by Russian state employees, the opportunity to pay for purchases contactlessly using a smartphone with a linked card may come in very, very useful.
However, here you also need to understand this. Not only will manufacturers be forced to spend some time and resources on optimization, or at least the very fact of preinstalling Russian software, they will incur certain losses that will need to be compensated somehow. But since the state is unlikely to agree to subsidize the installation of software, it is obvious that all the associated costs will be passed on to you and me. As a result, smartphones – and other equipment behind them – may well rise in price by a couple, or even three percent of the current indicators.