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Russia: Tech retail investigation threatens Apple sales

By  |  September 16, 2013

Apple Inc.’s largest partner in Russia is reportedly under watch by the nation’s Federal Antimonopoly Service, an investigation that threatens the tech giant’s iPhone sales.

Retail group Svyaznoy is the subject of an FAS probe following a complaint by competitor Euroset, though reports did not detail exact allegations of the case.<>Nearly all iPhones are sold through Svyazoy because other major retailers have dropped their contracts with Apple, the last of which occurred last July.

Analysts say the retail giant could earn 70 percent of the iPhone market sales this month, a stance threatened by FAS action.

Reports say retailers dropped contracts with Apple due to marketing costs; the companies claim Apple denied negotiating more financially feasible terms.

Full Content: Nasdaq

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