Apple is to start selling its iPhone in Russia and expects to sell 3.5 million units within the next two years, reports the Washington Post.
Russia’s largest network, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), has agreed to sell the smart phones and will probably start shipping in October, with further negotiations with other network operators ongoing.
The phone has become a status symbol in Moscow and around 600,000 iPhones are already on the Russian market through unauthorised sales that have been smuggled in using suitcases or couriers.
The iPhone is expected to sell at retail for around 24,000 roubles (£530).