russia: Explained: How Russia plans to take on Google and Apple’s app stores – Times of India

Apple and Alphabet-owned Google operate the two largest app stores in the world — App Store and Play Store respectively. Responding to Moscow’s actions against Ukraine, these two app stores have limited access for Russian users. In reply, Russian internet group VK has recently launched a homemade app store. VK has launched this domestic app store as a part of a Kremlin-endorsed drive to create a local replacement for digital services offered by Western rivals.
What is RuStore?
RuStore is an app store developed by a Russian internet group. RuStore was created by VK with the support of Russia‘s ministry of digital development, communications and mass media along with Russian technology company Yandex, the country’s largest lender Sberbank and cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab.
RuStore availability and features
VK, also known as “Russia’s Facebook” has announced that a beta version of the Russian app store, named RuStore is now available for Android users. The company claims that more than 100 apps are available on the store at launch which also includes some government services. VK has also mentioned that more apps are being added every day. The company’s CEO Vladimir Kiriyenko said, “I am sure that RuStore will be in demand among both users and developers. It has everything it needs to become the largest Russian app store.”
Why Russia is trying to replace Play Store and App Store?
Russia is pushing hard for the rapid development of domestic digital alternatives. The development of these domestic digital alternatives has also helped the country to accelerate its campaign to exert control over the online space. These local digital alternatives that will limit the access of Western rivals include — Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, Twitter and even the Google News platform.
Russia’s minister of communications and media, Maksut Shadaev said, “creating a Russian app store is an essential task, dictated by market conditions” in a statement while announcing the launch of RuStore. Other Russian politicians are also encouraging users to switch to domestic providers.
Russia is also trying to lure IT specialists as the country faced an exodus of tech professionals in the initial weeks of what Moscow calls it “special military operation” in Ukraine. Since then, the Russian government has promised income tax breaks and preferential loans for tech companies. Russia is also offering a deferral of military service for IT employees in a bid to keep them in the country.
How VK has helped Russia to replace Western rivals?
VK owns multiple online services starting from social media platforms to food delivery apps. This Russian internet group is part-owned by Gazprom Media and has emerged as a leader in the race to replace Western online services.