Yandex has become the default search engine on Windows Phone-based handsets in Russia.
The company has partnered with Nokia, Samsung, HTC and Microsoft to provide its search services on the latest Windows Phone smartphone models on the country’s mobile market.
Yandex’s search engine is now installed on Samsung Оmnia W as well as on Nokia’s Windows Phone-powered Lumia 800 and Lumia 710. The Samsung Оmnia W is already available for purchase in Russia, while Nokia’s smartphones will hit the stores in December.
At the same time, following the launch of Windows Phone-based Titan, Mozart and Radar smartphones last autumn, HTC is planning an update release with Yandex as the default search engine on its handsets.
“Windows Phone is a new operating system with great potential. It is bound to catch attention in Russia. It’s good to know that the Windows Phone users in this country will have familiar Yandex search on their new devices,” says Tigran Khudaverdyan, Head of Web Portal and Mobile Services at Yandex. “The range of apps we have already developed for this platform includes Yandex.Maps and Yandex.Market and we will continue our effort to expand this range.”
“Launching Windows Phone in Russia, our goal was to provide our customers in this country with the latest version of a mobile operating system integrated with the most popular local web services and social networks. Now we are pleased to announce that the services of our strategic partner Yandex will appear on a wide range of smartphones supporting Windows Phone,” says Anna Kulashova, Director of Mobile Carriers and Service Providers Development at Microsoft.
Yandex develops apps and services for all major mobile operating systems. In October, Yandex became the main search provider on bada-powered smartphones available in Russia and the CIS.
