iPhone coming to Russia next year?

Russia’s news site Vedomosti has reported that Apple will begin selling iPhones legally in the country during 2009. Apparently, this is coming from Yevgeny Butman, Apple IMC Russia’s director in Moscow and something’s telling me there’s a merit in his words. According to market research, there are currently around 470,000 unlocked iPhones in use in Russia and I don’t see a reason why would Apple want to miss such an opportunity. All they have to do is sit with MTS (Russia’s leading mobile operator) or Megafona (which was reportedly in talks with Apple) and negotiate their terms. Now when they’ve changed the business model without requiring carriers for piece of the profits, this should fly. Any thoughts? [Via: Unwired View ] --- Related Articles at IntoMobile:

• Apple bringing iPhone to Russia this year
• 25.4% of the phones sold in Russia in 2006 were made by Nokia!
• RIM to bring the BlackBerry to Russia in 2008
• BlackBerry finally coming to Russia on Vimpelcom
• VCs bullish on WiMAX in Russia?