From January 1, all smartphones must have 16 Russian applications

Judging by the document, 16 domestic applications should be pre-installed on all smartphones and tablets,

computers - three, on Smart TV - four.

Let us remind you the new law on pre-installationRussian applications for devices imported into the country were required to come into force on July 1. However, in the spring, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions and the economic crisis, the authorities decided to postpone the deadline to January 1, 2021. The final details of how the new law would work had to be approved by the government.

Most applications and softwaresoftware must be pre-installed on smartphones and tablets. We are talking about browsers, search engines, social networks and instant messengers, email services. Also, domestic navigation services, voice assistants and news aggregators are required to be installed on smartphones. Among the required software to install are antiviruses, programs for listening to music and video, and for online broadcasts and access to user content. The government document also mentions office programs, the Mir payment service application, cloud storage, and the Government Services application. At the very end of the list  — “programs for accessing resources” included in the list of socially significant Internet services, including “for accessing a list of Russian programs that are quickly gaining popularity.”

On personal computers, the authorities orderedmanufacturers or their representatives to preinstall a domestic Internet browser, office software and antivirus, for Smart TV - a browser, a search engine, social networks and programs for playing audio and video content.

Special list of mandatory RussianThe software will be prepared by the Ministry of Digital Development. Both equipment manufacturers and persons authorized by companies are allowed to pre-install Russian applications. We are talking about suppliers or sellers of equipment.

We will remind, earlier the Huawei company agreedfollow the rule for pre-installation of Russian software. Representatives of Samsung Electronics and Xiaomi also expressed their readiness to cooperate with the Russian authorities. By the way, a Samsung representative stated that the company already has experience of such cooperation, including the pre-installation of Russian software and applications.

However, as far as Apple is concerned, a number of problems may arise. The matter is due to the policy of Apple, which itself pre-installs a limited list of applications on its devices.

Law on pre-installation of domestic software for everythinggadgets imported into Russia was adopted at the end of last year 2019. However, there was no publicly available information on what types of applications and on what devices must be installed by equipment manufacturers or their representatives.

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