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Russian Minister of Education and Science Andrey Fursenko came out appealing to school workers to stop national education disgrace. Considering Aleksandr Ponosov's lawsuit he recommended to check out every computer at Russian educational institutions to install legal software instead of one that is being used. Meanwhile, school teachers say legal software prices are too high to afford so they doubt any possibility to buy it for most Russian schools. Making it even worse, the State Duma member Mikhail Zapolev claimed they use illegal software on Duma's computers, too.
interactive ad agency is now to promote its old clients Nokia and SABmiller with banners in LiveJournal blogs. Victory S.A. acquired by Russian LJ-operator few months ago. The first SUP's advertisers are to pay $12-14 per thousand views which is 5-6 times more expensive than those who campaign with another popular Russian blog service . According to Nokia's PR manager in CIS Victoria Eryomina the company is used to target young consumers through interactive projects and that's why LiveJournal was chosen to promote the new phone model. LI.ru ad seller approach is that bloggers' audience is too diverse to sell it for standard web media prices. It sells banners targeted with demographic parameters for $1,5-3 per 1,000 views in LI.ru.
The number of .RU domain names reached 718,000 in 2006 and the market scores 375 mln rubles (abt USD 14,5 mln) against 220 mln rubles in 2005, according to the major registrator . The segment of domain resale arises, too: cybersquatters got 8% market share in 2006. Last year growth is the highest result that .RU has ever shown. That's because of natural growth of Internet spread in Russia, experts say. According to Russian web population reached 24 mln at the end of 2006.
has launched SKIF Cyberia supercomputer at Tomsk State University. The system reaches 12 bln Tflops while Linpack's standard test shows 7,8 Tflops result. The project was co-managed by Microsoft, Intel and Programm Systems Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences. SKIF Cyberia has been developed since Nov,2 2006 and cost about 51 mln rubles (~USD 2 mln) of government investment through the .
's board of directors approved $120 mln investment amount targeting company's expansion in the general interest web segment within Russia, former USSR republics and Eastern Europe. At the moment RBC (which was mostly known for its business targeted projects) is now concentrating on developing entertainment websites. According to RBC's chairman German Kaplun this amount will be spent within the next two years.
"We plan to extend our staff up to 500 people (150 at the moment) and to make purchases. Although there's not so many objects to invest in Russia, there are few, same thing in Eastern Europe', he told in an interview to . He also specified that $10 mln will be invested to venture projects, RBC plans to hold not less than a half share of each.
Describing the nearest future German Kaplun said that company's Internet business is being separated into Media Mir company with Michael Gurevich as a head of it. This company is already working on few startups and will negotiate on future partnerships and purchases. "We expect this project will have $70-100 mln turnover in three years", he said, "with 75% advertising and 25% services parts in revenue".
One of the major Russian mediacorporation is seeking for foreign funding, according to it's CEO Mikhail Dunaev. At his recent press-conference he admitted that SMM's TV assets ( and Tsifrovoe Teleradiovestchanie/DTB (Digital Broadcasting) would be of most interest to probable buyers. According to him a strategic alliance with one of the world's major mobile TV providers might be announced soon while SMM's DTB is about to release beta DVB-H service. Besides SMM is negotiating with Disney to produce together TV content at SMM's St.Petersbourg studio.
announced the completion of its merger with Exigen Services, US offshore outsourcer quartered on Bahamas. StarSoft has got 600 staff members working in St. Petersburg head office and development centers in Moscow and Kazan although the firm is registered in the US. Its 2006 turnover amounts to $17 mln. According to StarSoft's president Nikolai Puntikov and chairman Alec Miloslavsky, the merging was finalized Jan,16. The new company will continue under both brands depending on awareness of those in different regions with front offices in US, Europe. They also announced opening of a development center in the EU. Some sources disclosed StarSoft was previously seeking partnership with and .
One of top Russian mobile retailers is closing outlets of little profit to offer new services such as providing Wi-Fi internet and web hosting. The reason for this decision is Euroset's growing market share which is about to reach 45% and cause antimonopoly prosecution. Also announced it is also launching some new services this year including co-projects with banks and independent telecom providers, the last implies web hosting as supposed.
According to hit counter Google's share in Russian Internet search traffic for the first time. Along with this Google has strengthened its positions reaching 21,6 % share and moving to second place within top search engines between and . This Google's burst in Russia may be a result of its latest PR efforts like opening Gmail registration to all, launching its major services in Russian, opening its official Russian blog and promoting Google apps with CD's put in local press.
's Russian website publised a from anonymous 'reliable source' about information agency 's 25+1% share being sold to 'an investor who has nothing to do with media'. According to Finam the transaction has been already approved at unofficial rate and the agency was in the course of 'Great Four' financial consultancies' evaluation by the moment. The rumour arrowsed much interest considering lack of any more independent media assets in the Russian Internet with joint with and sold to Gazprom's . However this rumour may appear to be a hint dropped by Regnum's owner to attract probable investors who are now pretty excited about investing to online media on the eve of coming president elections-2008.
