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Oleg Bunin, the founder of Russian Internet Technologies conference () announced the forthcoming start of professional developers union in Russia. The institution would be responsible for contacts with universities (and working out educational recommendations), promotion of professional standards, maintaining rights of union members in open-source projects and fighting excessive Internet regulation. Also the union would educate web-hosters "so that they don't get overheat at summer and could faster react on DDos-attacks", smiles Oleg Bunin. Although union's founders are not ready to registrate it as formal institution, they are all eager to act as a consolidated professional community.
Interfax information group announced it is acquiring 90% share of . According to Interfax's chairman Mikhail Komissarov, this decision was made considering Finmarket's strong positions in business & finance web segment of Russian web. Besides it would allow Interfax to enter the open information market - at the moment it distributes business and financial information only by paid subscription.
Cisco Systems announced its plans to expand on Russian technology market as a venture capitalist. To launch the initiative, Cisco also announced that it has made an investment in a leading Russian e-commerce site, . With this acquisition Ozon's top-management would be reappointed for the second time in the last half year. In October, 2006 Baring Vostok Private Equity Fund (BVPEF) bought the 50%+1 share of Ozon from its co-owner PPE Group and restored the total 85% share that it has owned until 2002. Along with Cisco's entrance, BVEPF announced it has sold a part of its share to Swedish fund Index Ventures (former shareholder). According to sources familiar with the situation new shareholders got together 20% share of Ozon.ru, BVPEF holds another 65%.
"While Russia has low Internet penetration in terms of percentage of its overall population, in absolute terms it has as many Internet users as some Western European countries," said Bob Agee, vice president, Cisco Russia. "The amount of technical talent in Russia shows that the country is ready to become more technologically advanced. Increased investment in communications infrastructure can help improve productivity, diversify the economy and increase the standard of living across the country." The same reason made Esther Dyson from EDventure to bet for $5,000 with Intuit's chairman Bill Campbell that in 2012 Wall Street Journal and New York Times would call Russia the world leading software developer.
LiveInternet.ru hit counter another 0,2% growth of Google's share in Russian search traffic in March (the same index in February). Meanwile Russian search leader Yandex is about to reach its peak as a web search provider. Although it added 0,7% more visitors in March (0,1% growth in February), it's share has been rapidly descending back during first decade of April. These figures prove the trend set at the start of the year, analysts say. Google gains more Russian visitors introducing its services in Russian one by one while Yandex is unable to generate any more search traffic or bring down Google.
The city council of Ukraine's capital approved the decision to ban school students from visiting places with public Internet at school hours (8am - 2pm) and after 9 pm. This step was taken to prevent the spread of Internet addiction among young Ukrainians. By this resolution, public internet providers were also obliged to close access to websites with explicit content for under-age visitors.
Russian online matchmaking services made $34m turnover in 2006, says iKS-Consulting recent report. The figure is four times more than the previous year result and would double in 2007, analysts say. leads in .RU online matchmaking with 85% market share. Although this year it might be pressed by 's . RBC has already spent about $10m on LovePlanet's promotion.
Monster Worldwide is to open its Russian office within the next 2-3 months. The company plans to become the second biggest player in Russian online-recruiting business after HH.ru, with 20% market share by the end of 2007. Experts forecast the market will reach $20 mln this year.
Yet some local competitors doubt Monster's plans could come true. "5% market share is the most that Monster could gain in a year. The market leaders are strong and it would be difficult for a newcomer to attract the necessary number of employers and unemployed", says Sergey Shevtchenko from Pronto-Moscow (Job.ru).
One of Google-Russia leading developers Igor Krivokon told Webplanet.ru about his first tech talks and Google educational program in Russia. The program includes lectures and seminars at Moscow and St.Petersbourg universities. First talks are to make a general review of Google's architecture. Later Google will talk on detailed infrastructure and interesting applications. The program was launched in Russian (in most countries Google tech talks are held in English). All lectures are webcasted and further posted on YouTube (first one by Krivokon already ).
Igor describes how he was amazed to see lecture halls full of enthusiasts: some students showed so much interest that few desks were broken. He admits that a few attendees knew every detail of Google's architecture. Yey the majority heard nothing of Google and web search.
He also said there in no direct goal to head-hunt some new Russian people for Google crew. Tech talks and the whole educational program is a strategic investment into technological environment rather than plain marketing. With its contribution to the developement of Russian science and education, the company looks forward for the new generation of professionals and new businesses they could run with Google - or without it.
was launched as a comic imitation of a virtual business that operates on fraudulent MLM schemes. Its founders journalist Alexey Khodorych, PR-specialist Dmitry Glavatsky and one of BinBank top managers Anton Roud call it "Good and Evil, Inc." They say it was conceived as a "laughter vaccination" to prevent Russians from falling a victim to real frauders. The website promises to give every new contractor wealth and health and hapiness for only becoming Good and Evil's shareholder. Not only these offers, the domain name and website's design are to prompt the comic concept of the project. According to the website, Good and Evil Inc. got all rights for The Benny Hill Show which "would be relaunched and brodcasted on major TV channels all over the world very soon". When asked about possible claims from the show's real licensees, Aleksey Khodorych told us it would be just a good PR occasion.
Legal consultation of which examines software legality for state prosecutors reports it has been overloaded with requests. Well known Ponosov's lawsuit became mass practice. Few days ago a textile company in Chelyabinsk stopped working after eight computers were withdrawn on suspicion of using illegal software. Later these days local police department examined an office of the Kapital LK insurance agency in Ufa, Bashkortostan. They were using illegal software there, although supply contract said the license was ok, so the supplier was called to court. Local businessmen say Kapital LK wasn't the single case and that police has also arrested property in one of the city's travel agency. Meanwhile software developers report rising sales in Russia due to these examinations. There were sold twice as much MS Windows and Office in last few months.
