Slumping sales of the iPhone in Russia have forced one of the country’s “big three” carriers to sue a major retail partner, according to a C-News report (Translated link). Mobile Telesystems (MTS) recently won a 279 million ruble (roughly $8.85 million) claim against retailer Euroset, which failed to sell the iPhones it agreed to, and which MTS had given it.
To further complicate matters, MTS rival VimpelCom acquired a 49.9% stake in Euroset last autumn. Overall sales of the iPhone in Russia have been disappointing, with the three major carriers—MTS, VimpelCom, and MegaFon—agreeing to sell 3.5 million units within two years, but having collectively sold only 250,000 through the first quarter of 2009.
The carriers stopped buying iPhones at the beginning of the year, according to the report, and are working with Apple to renegotiate their contracts. [via Cult of Mac | via Profy]
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