Google is a “household” name in CIS software on Andorid based devices. For the first time, it is receiving some intensive competition from a Russian based company Yandex.
Yandex is launching a free alternative to Google’s firmware, and has already signed with Huawei and Explay. These devices are hitting the market this spring. Users who opt in for these devices will receive 50Gb on Yandex.Disk cloud storage as a cool bonus.
With flexible development possibilities Yandex firmware is very attractive not only to users but also to developers. Becoming a new platform it has incredible development potential. As an additional incentive, manufacturers will get a percentage from the revenue generated by Yandex.kit.
Nokia and Samsung have also announced that they will allow Yandex to install their search engine, and iPhone and iOS apps are soon to be released too.
Yandex already has several international projects, first of which was a portal in Turkey in 2011. Future plans include cooperation with Czech portal Seznam, which controls most of the domestic market despite Google’s presence.