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market leaders Yandex and Delimobil’s current numbers). The agreement lacks details, such as responsibilities and financial contribution. It is also unclear whether or not Mail.ru is only meant as a software provider.
Russian internet major Mail.ru launched its own voice assistant called Marusya in test mode, Vedomosti daily reported citing unnamed sources. Reportedly, Marusya's functionality is currently limited to information queries and launching music from Mail.ru's social network VKontakte, which could later be expanded to food delivery, e-commerce, ordering taxi, etc. Vedomosti claims that the development of the assistant cost $2mn. In May 2018 Mail.ru's main rival Yandex unveiled an AI-driven Yandex voice assistant Alisa, analogous to Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and Google Home assistants, which was integrated in Yandex's smart speaker and voice assistant device Yandex.Station (Yandex.Stanciya). Alisa is also integrated into Yandex.Avto system that will be installed on the dashboards of over 2mn vehicles produced by Avtovaz, a major recent win for Yandex. The launch of Mail.ru's Marusya "is expected and a natural move for one of the largest internet companies in Russia," BCS Global Markets commented on June 17. "It has a wide set of services to integrate into the assistant, which could offset it having less expertise in search and speech recognition (basis for voice aid), for instance, Yandex," BCS GM analysts note.
One of Russia's "big four" mobile operators Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) is in talk to acquire a stake in mobile taxi ordering service Gett in Russia, Kommersant daily reported cited unnamed sources. Reportedly, Gett also discussed a partnership with internet major Mail.ru, but could not settle on a price for the deal. Mail.ru reportedly valued Gett's Russian business at $150mn, while Gett saw the valuation at $450mn-600mn.
Russia's largest bank state-controlled Sberbank will acquire 25% of PayZakat platform that collects charity for Muslims in need, the bank announced on June 11. Zakat is a form of alms-giving treated in Islam as a religious obligation or tax, which, by Quranic ranking, is next after prayer in importance. Global zakat collections reach $500bn a year. PayZakat platform allows its users to calculate the contribution amount, and channel it to the charity of their choice, with the help of chat bots integrated into the social networks, as well as to receive status updates on the contribution.
Russia's largest bank Sberbank will start promoting online cinema Okko in its branches, and will grant Rambler Group access to acquiring and ID systems of its client base, Kommersant daily said on June 6 following up on the memorandum on operational cooperation signed between the parties on the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). In April Sberbank acquired 46.5% in Rambler Group and said it would invest in the media holding controlled by Alexander Mamut. Online media assets are in focus in Russia as prior to Sberbank/Rambler deal one of Russia's "big four" operators MobileTeleSystems (MTS) said it considers an acquisition of “the Russian Netflix,” online cinema provider ivi. Yandex internet major reportedly will launch production of its own video content. Rambler was formed in 2013 as tycoons Alexander Mamut and Vladimir Potanin joined their video assets. The holding includes online and traditional cinemas, anchor portal Rambler.ru, a number of popular internet publications and portals such as Lenta.ru, Gazeta.ru, Afisha, and others. In 2016 Mamut bought out Potanin’s stake for about $295mn. Rambler's Okko is the second-largest online cinema on the Russian market after ivi. Sberbank will promote subscription to Okko on favorable terms, as
108 RUSSIA Country Report July 2019 www.intellinews.com