RuStore

The main articles are:

• Android app stores
• Mobile apps

RuStore is the official Russian store of mobile applications. Stor is developing VK together with Russian IT companies with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation.

Chronicle

2024

Section "Most Important"

VK has implemented generative artificial intelligence in RuStore. The company announced this on November 2, 2024. AI analyzes user reviews of applications and games, highlighting their pros and cons in the general summary format.

The "Most Important" section has appeared in the application card, where AI combines and summarizes reviews - the user will see the main conclusions that describe the application or game. Algorithms filter estimates given only full and up-to-date feedback for more accurate information. The section is available only if there are enough reviews (from 100).

Generative AI algorithms will analyze user reviews and automatically create a brief about the application or game. This will help users quickly decide on the decision to download the application and save them from having to view many reviews, "said Oleg Afanasyev, Product Director of RuStore.

Artificial intelligence technologies are also used in recommendations and app store searches. For this section to appear in the application card, you need to update RuStore to the latest version.

Add a Kiosk section

The Kiosk section has been launched in RuStore, where you can replenish your balance for in-game purchases. As of September 2024, a replenishment of mobile and PC games is already available in the section, including Roblox and Fortnite. VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) announced this on September 17, 2024.

The gaming segment is growing rapidly in RuStore. We see an increase in new game releases in the catalog, as well as an increase in user downloads. The launch of the new section will allow you to safely pay for popular games in the usual and understandable format of the app store. In the future, we plan to expand the number of offers in Kiosk, - said Oleg Afanasyev, product director of RuStore.

The Kiosk section is available on the main RuStore showcase. You can use it by updating RuStore to the latest version.

Use of 77 million devices

In August 2024, it became known that the official Russian mobile application store RuStore crossed the mark of 77 million installations on devices throughout the country, which was an important achievement for the domestic platform.

According to TASS, RuStore, created for Android, Harmony OS and Aurora operating systems, is rapidly gaining popularity among users thanks to a wide range of applications and games presented in the store. According to VK, by August 2024, more than 40 thousand applications developed by teams from 40 countries of the world are available on the platform. During 2024, users updated applications through RuStore more than 1.5 billion times. Financial apps are the most popular, accounting for 37% of all updates, followed by useful tools (13%) and shopping apps (7%).

RuStore installed on 77 million devices

RuStore Director Dmitry Pankrushev stressed that the possibility of online application updates is one of the key advantages of the platform, which is actively used by the owners of millions of devices. This gives developers the flexibility to tailor their products to different categories of users, providing quick access to important updates, he said.

However, despite the growing popularity, research by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) shows that RuStore is still inferior to foreign counterparts in terms of use. According to a survey conducted in July 2024, 74% of Russians have not yet used the domestic app store, preferring familiar international platforms such as Google Play. Nevertheless, the requirement of the mandatory RuStore pre-installation for new devices, including Apple products, does not cause significant negativity among the population. Only 22% of respondents consider this measure a violation of consumer rights.^[1]

RATEK asked the government not to ban the sale of smartphones without RuStore

In August 2024, it became known that the Association of Trading Companies and Manufacturers of Electric Household and Computer Equipment (RATEK) appealed to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Dmitry Grigorenko with a request not to support the bill banning the sale of mobile devices without a pre-installed Russian RuStore application store.

According to Kommersant, in its appeal RATEK expressed concern about the possible negative consequences of the adoption of this initiative. The association, which includes large companies such as DNS, Huawei and Citylink, warns of potential financial losses for retailers and rising gray sales in the electronics market.

Electronics sellers ask not to prohibit the sale of devices in Russia without RuStore

The bill, developed by a group of deputies and senators headed by Anton Gorelkin, a member of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, IT and Communications, proposes to amend the law "On Protection of Consumer Rights." According to the initiative, the sale of devices without pre-installed RuStore will be banned in Russia.

If the bill is adopted, devices from such large manufacturers as Apple, Samsung, Huawei and Honor, which do not pre-install the Russian application store, will fall under its effect. This could lead to a significant reduction in the range of smartphones and tablets available on the market.

RATEK draws attention to the fact that retailers do not have the right to independently install marketplaces on devices. This restriction could lead to the fact that many popular models of smartphones and tablets will be banned from sale, which could potentially lead to the closure of a number of electronics retail chains in Russia.

According to the association, the turnover of Apple goods in Russia is about ₽250 billion. If the sale of these devices is banned, the country's budget may receive less than about ₽50 billion in customs payments.^[2]

Permission for foreign individual developers to download applications to the store

The Russian application store RuStore has opened the possibility of registration for foreign individual developers, allowing them to download their products to the platform. This decision, made at the end of July 2024, significantly expands the possibilities for international cooperation in the field of mobile applications.

According to the company, previously downloading applications was only available to foreign legal entities. Now foreign indie developers can register in the RuStore developer console as individuals and use all the platform tools to develop and promote their products.

Rustore allowed foreign individuals to download applications

The head of RuStore Dmitry Pankrushev noted that over the past six months of 2024, the number of domestic developers-individuals in the store has increased 1.5 times. He stressed that now foreign indie publishers from far abroad or the CIS will be added to them.

RuStore provides developers with a wide range of capabilities, including tools for responding to user feedback, tracking application statistics, collecting and analyzing errors, and remote configuration service.

It is important to note that RuStore is the official Russian store of mobile applications, compatible with devices based on Android, Harmony OS and Aurora OS. As of July 2024, the store has more than 40 thousand games and applications from developers from 40 countries.

As part of the continuous improvement of the service, RuStore has also introduced machine learning (ML) technologies to improve the user experience. Neural networks now help users find the right applications, make personalized recommendations and thematic collections.

The machine learning system analyzes the first letters entered by the user, and based on similar requests offers the most relevant and popular applications or games. This innovation is designed to make the process of searching and choosing applications more efficient and convenient for RuStore users.^[3]

Adding a Multifactor Application

Mobile application Multifactor appeared Russian in the RuStore digital store. This was Multifactor announced on March 27, 2024. More. here

Add Android App Bundle format

RuStore has added support for the Android App Bundle (AAB) publication format. With the launch of this format, the "weight" of applications decreased, the stability of work increased and their download accelerated, on average, by 25%. VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) announced this on February 29, 2024.

Android App Bundle allows you to download an application in the RuStore as a special archive, which contains assemblies of the application for specific device parameters: screen resolution, processor and others. The store automatically detects the most suitable assembly and installs it on a smartphone. Thanks to this, applications will take up less memory on the device. For example, the VK Video application will take up about 30% less memory when the developer publishes the application in AAB format (depending on the characteristics of the smartphone). After the launch of the Android App Bundle, more than 200 applications in AAB format have already been downloaded from the RuStore.

With Android App Bundle, users will be able to download applications faster - AAB files weigh significantly less. Using this format also allows you to optimize memory on your smartphone and ensure stable operation of applications. Developers can more easily manage applications. Now you can update, roll back or adjust the versions of applications once for the entire package, - said Artem Anin, CTO of RuStore.

For developers who have not yet switched to AAB, the ability to download and publish APK files of the application is available in RuStore, including downloading several builds of the application of the same version for Android and Harmony OS.

Audience 29 million per month

RuStore's monthly audience reached 29 million, which is about a third of the audience, RuNet to to data Mediascope January 2024. The developer announced this on February 20, 2024.

RuStore has gone from a new product to one of the leaders in the Russian audience in just a year and a half. During this time, our team provided all the necessary infrastructure for users and developers, including monetization and entry into the Russian market for foreign developers. More than 35,000 different services and games are available to RuStore users, a third of which are from foreign developers, "said Ilya Sverchkov, Operations Director of RuStore.

According to a study by Mediascope, the audience indicators of vendor stores are as follows: the monthly audience for January 2024 Xiaomi Mi Store amounted to 23 million, Samsung Galaxy Store - 21.3 million, Huawei AppGallery - 12.3 million.

RuStore is actively expanding its presence on new devices - by February 2024, the application store is available on readers, media centers, TVs, tablets. In 2024, RuStore is expected to become the main application store for the Aurora OS.

2023

Second place in terms of traffic among app stores in Russia

By the end of 2023, RuStore overtook the App Store in terms of traffic in Russia - the shares of these application stores amounted to 4.07% and 3.3%, respectively. This is evidenced by the data of the Bilain Analytics service, published in mid-February 2024.

The first place in the number of visits among application stores in the Russian Federation in December 2023 was retained by Google Play, which accounted for 91.2% of users. The fourth position is occupied by the Huawei catalog (1.15%).

RuStore overtook the App Store in terms of traffic in Russia

According to Bilain Analytics, in December 2022, Google Play's share in the total number of app visits was 95.4%. In second place was the App Store with 3.22%, in third place was the Huawei app store with 1%. The total number of sessions on RuStore at the end of December 2022 was measured only 0.25% of all app stores.

According to Vedomosti, the growth in popularity of RuStore in 2023 is largely due to the blocking of banking applications on Google Play. Product Director in the corporate messenger Compass Evgeny Perov, in a conversation with the newspaper, stressed that RuStore has a high level of comfort, so people use it. The expert also noted that the statistics of cellular operators do not include devices for which SIM cards are usually not purchased - for example, tablets.

A representative of VK (developer of RuStore), citing Mediascope data, told the publication that in December 2023, the monthly audience of RuStore amounted to 26 million users, which is about a third of the audience of Runet. In August 2023, it numbered 17 million people. According to forecasts of analysts surveyed by Vedomosti, RuStore's share in the Russian app store market will continue to grow largely due to promotion through the VK audience.

According to RuStore's own data for 2023, finances are leading among non-gaming categories on the platform - they account for about half of downloads, then there are "useful tools." The third place is divided in equal shares: shopping, entertainment and transport.^[4]

Availability of AlfaInsurance Mobile application

The AlfaInsurance Mobile mobile application has become available for download in the RuStore. The company announced this on February 8, 2024. Read more here.

Availability of new locations for advertising

On December 19, 2023, VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) announced that new places for advertising in the RuStore are available to owners and developers of mobile applications for Android. With VK Ads, publishers can promote their services in the Games and Applications sections, as well as show ads to an audience that is more likely to install them on a smartphone.

ML models of the advertising platform take into account information about the mobile application that is available in the card, as well as information about its viewing. This allows you to increase the effectiveness of promotion: ads are seen by users who were interested in the service of a certain topic.

Algorithms VK Ads choose where to display ads based on the category of mobile app. If the publisher promotes a casual game for, smartphone visitors to the Games section will see the announcement. In the case of promoting the mobile service of a bank or marketplace, advertising will be broadcast in the "Applications" block.

To launch the campaign, select the "Mobile Application" object and add a link to the service in the page in the advertising room. As a place to place ads, select "Native placement": ads will be displayed in the "Games," "Applications" or "Interesting" sections. You can also show ads in the RuStore search results, as well as on other VK projects and in the advertising network.

Availability on Onyx Boox Faust 6 readers

The official RuStore app store is available in the latest model of ONYX BOOX Faust 6 readers, which hit the market in early December. Users of other ONYX BOOX models will also be able to download applications from RuStore, which will require updating devices to the latest version. VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) announced this on December 12, 2023.

We're expanding the app store across platforms so more users can access apps securely. Developers will have the opportunity to increase their audience and publish various versions of applications in a single RuStore console, "said Ilya Sverchkov, Operating Director of RuStore.

RuStore continues to expand its presence on new platforms. The app store is now available on the latest generation TVIP S-Box media centers, which are widely distributed by Russian and foreign operators. communications While the application is running in early access mode, with the release of the January update ON , TVIP will be available by default.

RuStore is available on smartphones, tablets and even TVs. Users can download popular applications and games to all their devices, and developers can monetize and develop their business.

Ability to upload videos, test payments, and announce events

The Russian application store RuStore is launching additional developer capabilities that will simplify the process of managing and testing applications, as well as increase the number of downloads. This was announced on November 21, 2023 by VK (formerly Mail.ru Group).

In RuStore, the fichering format appears - in-game events. In the "Interesting" section, banners will appear with the announcement of the event from the developers, indicating the date, description and link to the application. This will attract additional user attention and increase the number of downloads and payments in applications and games.

Another way to increase conversion is to upload videos to your app card. Developers for November 2023, when publishing an application, can add a link to a video that users can display in the application card in the section with screenshots. You can download the video from any popular video hosting.

Sandbox will be launched to check built-in purchases using test bank cards. The update will allow you to safely test payment integration without the need to conduct transactions with real money. Developers will be able to switch between real and test purchases at any time.

Developers will soon have the opportunity to download apps Android in App Bundle (AAB) format. This universal format takes into account capabilities smartphone and automatically adapts to them. This will make it easier for developers to publish and manage an application in RuStore, and users will be able to download what they like faster, content since this format will make applications smaller.

RuStore will be installed on smartphones in advance from 2024

with Smartphones the domestic operating system () OS "" Aurora will automatically have a pre-installed applications Rustore store from 2024. From the same moment developers , it will be possible to self-publish applications. This was announced on November 20, 2023 by the press service of the deputy. State Duma of the Russian Federation Anton Nemkin

Already in 2024, RuStore will be preinstalled on all devices with the Aurora OS, - said the leading manager of RuStore Alexander Rusnak.

He noted that pre-installation will be possible from the fifth generation of the operating system, and developers will also have the opportunity to self-publish applications. As a result, RuStore will become the main store of applications for devices on Aurora.

As explained in the press service of the developer of the Aurora OS "Open Mobile Platform," the appearance of this application store on Aurora is a signal to the market about the growth of the ecosystem and the emergence of opportunities for using the Russian mobile operating system.

Earlier it became known that in the first 10 days from the beginning of retail sales of smartphones on the domestic operating system "Aurora" 367 devices were sold for 6.1 million rubles.

So, smartphones sold 308 pieces for 4.9 million rubles, tablets - 61 (1.2 million rubles). The buyers are individuals who want to study this OS to work or simply use the device for its intended purpose.

The store manages to attract a new audience, in particular, by expanding the catalog - as of November 2023, more than 20 thousand applications from Russian and foreign companies, game studios and indie developers are available in it, the number of foreign applications is also growing, there are already more than 8 thousand of them. Due to the growth of the audience, Rustore, in turn, constantly develops the product and expands its functionality for users and developers. However, the creation of a full-fledged national mobile ecosystem is possible only when IT companies join forces. In September 2023, the developers began adapting Rustore for Aurora, this process should be completed by the end of the year, and from 2024 it will become available to everyone who has already switched to the domestic operating system. I can say for sure that it is these people who will provide themselves with the greatest information security on the network, since domestic developers undoubtedly pay much more attention to it than foreign companies, the deputy said.

Earlier, Rostelecom reported that the Russian developer Avroid (part of the Fplus IT holding) has created a platform that allows running Android applications in the Aurora operating system. The technology allows you to safely integrate Android applications into the Aurora OS, so that you can run any programs, preserving all the functionality of applications.

At the same time, the platform correctly displays graphical application windows, works with audio and video functions, network connections. Users can also switch between multiple running Android apps and manage their settings.

Adaptation for blind users, people with visual and motor impairment

RuStore became the first inclusive Russian application store. VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) announced this on November 17, 2023.

The RuStore app store is adapted for blind users, as well as for people with visual and motor impairments. In the application and in the web version, all elements ensure correct work with the tools for voicing.

Now every RuStore user can freely execute important store scripts: download, buy, update applications and leave reviews. The RuStore development team worked with blind and visually impaired testers to increase platform availability. The application received signatures that are understandable for perception by ear - users can figure out where they are and what exactly is available to them. We are also striving to increase the number of applications aimed at developing an inclusive environment, "said Oleg Afanasyev, Product Director of RuStore.

To interact with devices, blind users use screen readers - programs that voice text on the page. For their correct work, the RuStore developers adapted the code by changing the layout of the elements and adjusted the explanatory text for them. Thanks to this, blind users will be able to comfortably work with RuStore through a screen reader. For example, an application for voice acting will help you download the application and pay for a subscription.

Promotion of applications is available in the "VK Ads" office

The developers will expand the audience of mobile applications using ads in the RuStore search results. Promotion setup and statistics are available in the VK Ads cabinet. The platform's algorithms will show ads to store users who are more likely to install the application on the device. VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) announced this on November 14, 2023.

VK Advertising takes into account impersonal data about the interests of the audience, the category of the application and user requests in the RuStore search bar. If a user searches the store for a bank application, they can see ads for other financial services.

To promote, select the "Mobile Application" object and add a link to the application in the store in the advertising room. As a place to display the ad, you need to specify "Search output."

Then you need to set the main parameters of the campaign: the timing, budget and characteristics of the audience to which the ad is to be shown. Platform algorithms will automatically allocate the budget to the most efficient ad sets.

Add eXpress SuperApplication

The eXpress business super application can be downloaded from RuStore. The developer of the communication platform eXpress introduced into the system and tested the ability to send and receive push notifications from an alternative domestic store. Unlimited Production announced this on November 7, 2023. Read more here.

Add Tracer and Remote Config services

The RuStore app store has introduced additional options for developers. Tracer will allow publishers to find technical problems and errors in applications, and thanks to Remote Config, you can manage the functions of your application without publishing updates. This was announced on September 22, 2023 by VK (formerly Mail.ru Group).

Remote Config and Tracer optimize routine development processes and provide greater opportunities for publishers. For example, Tracer notes where the error occurred and looks for problems within partitions and program modules. This is relevant for applications where many use cases are available to users. Tracer allows developers of such applications to simplify the search for errors, as well as fix the most important problems first of all, "said Oleg Afanasyev, Product Director of RuStore.

Tracer, developed social network by the Schoolmates"" team, became the Russian counterpart of Firebase Crashlitycs from. Google It helps you find technical problems in mobile applications in real time and Android provides automatic error reports. Another Tracer quality is the ability to find performance bottlenecks that cannot be detected during testing. Thanks to the prompt identification of such problems, developers will be able to avoid the fall of the application and the outflow of the audience.

Remote Config allows publishers to test new features, releasing them only to a fraction of users. If the functionality works with errors or the audience does not like it, you can turn it off in real time without updating the application. With Remote Config, you can publish feature sets for different groups of users. For example, developers have the ability to run updates for a part of the audience with a specific device model, and the rest to enable them after testing.

These tools are already available to developers in the RuStore Console. They have a clear interface, and the integration process does not require complex settings.

13 thousand applications and 17 million users per month

"Our common directory has already exceeded 13 thousand applications. At the end of the year, we are guided by 30 thousand. And if we look at the historical catalog, conditionally, on Google Play, which was before, the share of foreign applications was quite significant, exceeding 70% of the total share of applications. Accordingly, the growth of this catalog is possible precisely due to foreign applications, "Ilya Sverchkov, Operating Director of RuStore, told TASS in September 2023.

At this time, the store has just over a thousand foreign applications. The largest share among them is occupied by China, Hong Kong, Singapore also have significant shares, other countries are represented pointwise. According to Sverchkov, by the end of 2023 the balance of Russian and foreign applications should be leveled. In addition, RuStore plans to increase its monthly active audience to 25 million people by the end of 2023. As of September 2023, the most popular among users, the number of which is about 17 million, are financial instrument applications.

Start of development of RuStore for Aurora OS

Open Mobile Platform (OMP) and VK announced the start of development of RuStore for the Aurora mobile operating system. Rostelecom announced this on September 11, 2023.

The product and engineering teams of OMP and VK are actively working together, ensuring the integration of RuStore and the Aurora operating system in order to create a convenient and secure application store available to any user and developer in the Aurora ecosystem.

The main principle of the development of the Aurora national mobile ecosystem is openness in accordance with which the key components of the platform are created not by the owner company, but by integrating domestic solutions into a single environment, "said Kirill Menshov, Senior Vice President for Information Technology of Rostelecom.

Creating an infrastructure for Russian developers is one of the tasks of the app store. We support the domestic technology market and develop partnerships with various platforms, including in order to provide users with access to familiar applications and their timely updates, "said Ilya Sverchkov, Operating Director of RuStore. - Our cooperation is a vivid example of effective collaboration, when the best players of the IT market united to solve a common problem for the benefit of users.

Supporting our operating system with this application store will significantly expand the capabilities of Aurora OS to interact with the audience and ecosystem, as well as accelerate the emergence of applications and services for solving everyday problems, such as Internet banking, ordering a taxi, food delivery and others, "explained Pavel Eiges, CEO of Open Mobile Platform.

Adding Child Mode

A children's mode has appeared in the official RuStore app store. This was announced on September 5, 2023 by the company. VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) Parents can customize viewing and search results content based on the child's age, as well as manage purchases.

According to our data, most parents are concerned about a child's possible access to "adult" or "profanity" sites and apps. The safety of users, including children, is the main priority of RuStore. In order for immersion in the world of mobile applications and games to be the most comfortable, we have developed a special children's mode that will not only show age-appropriate content, but also offer useful applications and games for study, sports and entertainment, "said Oleg Afanasyev, Product Director at RuStore.

A parent can choose one of the child's age options: preschool, schoolboy or teenager - it depends on what applications he sees. For preschoolers, only children's content is displayed without unwanted material; for schoolchildren - applications and games that are suitable for the whole family, but can contain dynamic content; more adult content is available to teenagers.

Another feature of this mode is special collections from the RuStore edition. They contain useful applications and games and change depending on the chosen age of the child. For example, for preschoolers, the editors will select special applications that will teach them to read and count. For schoolchildren, applications for preparing for school and popular games have been collected.

The child will not be able to turn off children's mode on his own: the parent sets a code without entering which it is impossible to change settings or make purchases.

You can enable children's mode, select the age of the child and set the pin code in the profile settings in RuStore.

Mishustin approved the mandatory RuStore preinstallation for all devices sold in the Russian Federation - even with a ban from OS copyright holders

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin approved the mandatory preliminary installation of RuStore on all devices sold in the Russian Federation - even with a ban on operating systems from copyright holders. This was reported on August 29, 2023 by the TASS agency with reference to a decree signed by the main Government of Russia.

The cabin believes that the new rule "will exclude cases of evasion from the preliminary installation of RuStore by manufacturers of technically complex goods." Also, the app store should have a "non-discriminatory display on the screen" compared to others, automatic updating and saving after returning to factory settings, the government said.

At the same time, the government indicated with reference to the decree, "the version of the previously installed single application store should be free for users at the time of first inclusion and in the process of use."

The new decree also supplements the list of classes of programs for mandatory preinstallation with programs whose main purpose is to check product labeling codes. Specific names of such applications will be determined later, the Cabinet of Ministers said in a statement.

In April 2023, distributors and manufacturers electronic engineers criticized the RuStore pre-installation supplement, bypassing the OS copyright holder's ban. According to them Google , it prohibits third-party stores on the licensed version. And Android an attempt to bypass this condition Russia in could lead "to the revocation of the model license around the world." Then a source close to the government "" Kommersant added that the decree would not affect devices imported by parallel import. Difficulties can arise only for those suppliers who continue to cooperate with foreign manufacturers officially, the source warned.^[5]

Add ad tools for developers and business

Advertising tools for developers and business have appeared in RuStore. VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) announced this on August 9, 2023.

RuStore has opened up the opportunity for developers and businesses to promote apps inside the store and find new users. VK Advertising is a single platform for launching campaigns on VK projects and in the advertising network.

The launch of ads is an important stage in the development of promotion tools for developers. VK Advertising technologies will help expand the audience of services and attract target users - those who install the application and actively interact with it. It is important for us that advertising is native and positively affects the experience of users, so ads are neatly entered into the RuStore interface, and algorithms take into account the needs and interests of the audience, "said Oleg Afanasyev, RuStore Product Director.

You can customize ads in a few clicks. In the VK Ads office, you need to select the "Mobile Applications" target, add a link to the service posted in RuStore and configure the main parameters: target audience, duration and promotion budget. Platform tools will automatically offer ad texts and adapt images to the format of ads in the store.

Ads can be shown both on all VK projects and the advertising network, and in the "Interesting" section of the RuStore. By clicking on the advertisement, users will go to the application page in the application store and will be able to install it immediately. In the future, VK Advertising will have more formats and locations for promoting applications inside RuStore. To promote applications inside RuStore in VK Advertising, special ML algorithms have been developed. They analyze the app card in the store and show ads to users who are more likely to install the service on a smartphone.

Another update that will help developers find their target audience is personal recommendations for users. With the daily update of recommended applications, developers will be able to reach a large audience, and users will be able to learn about new products that suit them.

Ability to download TV apps

RuStore has the ability to download applications for TV. This was announced on August 3, 2023 by VK (formerly Mail.ru Group).

The official app store has opened access for developers to publish services and games for Smart TV based on Android.

We are expanding the presence of RuStore on different platforms so that users can download verified applications from a secure source to all their devices. Developers can increase their audience, as well as introduce convenient tools for monetizing and developing their services, "said Ilya Sverchkov, Operations Director of RuStore.

The publication is available in the console - developers can download products both in assembly for mobile devices and for TVs.

Users will be able to use streaming services, TV channel applications and games on their TVs. In addition to entertainment content, services for work will be available, for example, programs for holding video conferences.

The Ministry of Digital Development has abandoned the mandatory installation of RuStore on TVs

On July 27, 2023, it became known that Ministry of Digital Development Russia it had abandoned the mandatory installation of the Russian Android RuStore store in smart TVs.

According to the newspaper, the Kommersant corresponding item is excluded from the draft government decree on the mandatory integration of RuStore with the operating system of mobile devices and TV. It was assumed that this store would be installed on TVs (Razz brand name Wildberries) under control. Android TV However, the Ministry of Digital Development came to the conclusion that the technical implementation of this issue needs to be improved.

In this document, we are talking primarily about the rules for integrating RuStore with the operating system. The Russian application store, according to the proposed requirements, should be integrated into Android on a par with the standard one - until the registration screen appears when the device is first turned on. However, as market participants note, this does not correspond to the terms of Google's license for system services.

These requirements are unenforceable for goods imported by parallel imports, namely, they make it possible to prevent a shortage of equipment on the market, "said Anton Guskov, a representative of the Association of Trading Companies and Manufacturers of Electric Household and Computer Equipment (RATEK).

The Kommersant newspaper also reports that the Ministry of Digital Development has revised the timing of the entry into force of the new requirements. It was assumed that the rules will take effect on September 1, 2023. According to the updated document, it will enter into force three months from the date of publication. Additional time is expected to help equipment manufacturers prepare for the integration of the RuStore store into mobile devices sold on the Russian market.^[6]

Entry into the international mobile development market

The official RuStore app store has opened a console for all foreign publishers. Now developers can download applications, promotion tools and connect stora technologies, including payments, push notifications and geo-services. This was announced on July 25, 2023 by VK (formerly Mail.ru Group).

RuStore is open to all developers who are interested in reaching the Russian audience. Stor is visited by more than 10 million users a month, and this number is constantly growing. We plan to develop partnerships with foreign publishers and help them expand their business in Russia, "said Ilya Sverchkov, Operating Director of RuStore.

Foreign developers can monetize their products and profit from the publication of paid services and games, as well as through built-in purchases. Downloading apps is free.

Previously, the console interface was localized, and non-resident developers were able to publish free applications. As of July 2023, more than 500 foreign applications are available in the store, including the popular social network Likee online game PUBG mobile games and from Chinese the publisher 37 Games.

Adding a Dark Theme

The Russian application store RuStore has updated its design. The "Themes" section has appeared in the user's profile, where users can change the design: now they have access to dark and pink themes. VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) announced this on July 20, 2023.

Users were waiting for a dark theme - this is one of the most frequent requests we received. Many use the dark theme on their devices to save energy, in low light or switch depending on the time of day. We also added a trending pink theme, "says Oleg Afanasyev, Product Director of RuStore.

In the "Theme" section, users have four options - light, dark, pink and "like in a system" interface. When choosing the last option, RuStore will automatically change in accordance with the settings of the smartphone.

Release of APIs for Publishing and Handling Reviews and Ratings

Russian shop applications RuStore has released API for publication and work with reviews and ratings. The tool allows you to automate product downloads and interact more quickly with users. The company VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) announced this on July 12, 2023.

The application publishing API allows you to download APK files, descriptions, screenshots and application icons, as well as create and delete application drafts. This allows you to fully automate the publishing process and significantly reduce download time.

API is an important tool for developers, especially for large services that regularly download updates and various products. The API eliminates errors when publishing applications and allows for faster moderation. As of July 2023, the average moderation time in RuStore is no more than 1 hours, taking into account security checks, which is much faster than many on the market, and we plan to improve this indicator, commented Oleg Afanasyev, Product Director at RuStore.

API for working with reviews and ratings makes it possible to respond to user reviews published in the story and receive everything information about reviews not only within the RuStore Console, but also to integrate in their own systems for working with user reviews, for example, in those already used CRM in the company. Obtaining up-to-date ratings will allow companies to automate their to the analyst work with applications and monitor how each of the updates affects the rating. The developer will always stay in touch with his audience. Publishers can also unload feedback and ratings analytics for later analysis and improve their products.

Ozon constantly improves functionality and releases weekly updates to its applications - marketplace, bank, services for sellers and PVZ agents. It took us no more than a week to add the ability to publish through the API. This really simplifies interaction with RuStore: the team saves time to download updated versions and releases them as soon as they are ready, commented Alexander Sviridov, head of mobile development for Ozon.

Previously, within the framework of the API, it was also possible to receive data on payments made that work using a special SKD Payments RuStore.

Launch monetization for individuals

RuStore has opened payment tools for Russian individual developers. They will be able to earn money through built-in purchases and subscriptions, as well as publishing paid applications. VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) announced this on June 7, 2023.

More than half of the developers registered in the story are individuals. Now they have the opportunity to earn money with RuStore on a par with legal entities and develop their business. It is enough to register in the status of self-employed - this can be done immediately through the console, the process will take several minutes. The publication of applications remains free and accessible to anyone, - said Ilya Sverchkov, Operations Director of RuStore.

The conditions for the use of monetization tools are the same for legal entities and for self-employed citizens. To start earning an individual from RuStore, you need to go to the Monetization section in the developer's console and click the Connect button. The system will automatically check if it has self-employed status. For example, if the developer is not registered with the Federal Tax Service, he can enter the necessary data immediately into the consoles. Receiving income from RuStore goes through the VK Pay Self-Employed B2B service, the money will go to a bank card linked to the developer's personal account in the application store. The minimum threshold for payment will be 5,000 rubles, detailed rules are available in the "Help" section of the website rustore.ru

Earlier, RuStore launched a developer support program that also applies to the self-employed. The commission on user payments will be from 0.9 to 3.35% (depending on the method of payment for the purchase) per turnover of up to one million rubles from each product by the end of the year. For example, the user paid for the subscription with a bank card - the store's commission will be 2.5%. If by the end of the year the amount of payments exceeds a million rubles, then the commission will be 15%, and for products in the Media category - 10%.

Authorization with Tinkoff ID

RuStore users have access to authorization using Tinkoff ID. Authorized users can evaluate applications and leave feedback, download and update available to everyone. VK announced this on April 21, 2023.

RuStore users - Tinkoff customers can buy paid applications, games, subscriptions and goods inside services using Tinkoff Pay. Thanks to the solution, you can make a purchase several times faster than with a bank card. To make a payment, you need to click on the Tinkoff Pay button and confirm the payment in the Tinkoff application. Card details do not need to be entered.

Together with our partners - the Russian IT companies, we are developing RuStore, improving its functionality, making it more convenient for millions of people. The introduction of Tinkoff solutions gives our users another way to quickly and simply log in and pay for purchases, "said Ivan Myzdrikov VK vice president, head of RuStore.

Tinkoff solutions help make people's lives more convenient and save them time for the important. Using Tinkoff ID and Tinkoff Pay greatly simplifies access to services, - said Sergey Khromov, vice president of Tinkoff and head of service Internet-.acquiring Tinkoff Kassa

The emergence of foreign applications

On April 3, 2023, it became known about the appearance of foreign applications in the RuStore. Their number is expected to increase in the near future.

More than 4 thousand publishers have already joined us, including the first foreign companies, for example, the popular and world-famous social network [with short vertical videos - approx. TAdviser] Likee, - Ilya Ulyanov, director of work with RuStore partners, told TASS.

In accordance with a government order, the domestic unified application store RuStore is included in the list of programs required for preliminary installation on electronic devices in 2023. This will provide Russian users with uninterrupted access to demanded digital services and services in conditions of external restrictions.

Pre-installation of a single application store will be carried out instead of a program for accessing socially significant information resources APP List, which was previously included in the list. The reason for the replacement is that the RuStore functionality duplicates and expands the capabilities of the APP List.

In addition, the Government increased from 10 to 15 the number of programs required for pre-installation that provide access to audiovisual services. This decision will come into force on March 1, 2023. It is aimed at creating equal competitive conditions for the development of domestic audiovisual services.

According to the telecommunications operator Yota, in March 2023, RuStore received 1.54% of the Russian application store market in terms of traffic. Google Play occupies more than 95%. Megafon estimated the total share of Russian marketplaces in the market at only 2%. Tele2 reported that among their subscribers, the number of Google Play users is 85%.^[7]

Ability to scan your device for malware

Users of RuStore, the official Russian app store for, Android will be able to check their own devices for harmful programs thanks to the ""integrated into the store to technologies. Kaspersky Lab This was announced on March 27, 2023 by the company. VK

As reported, the user can run diagnostics manually at any time or disable checking in the profile in the RuStore application. If the device is infected, when the latest version of the page is launched, information about the presence of malicious code and a potential threat will appear in the profile. The user decides for himself how to deal with a dangerous application - remove it or leave it. If no threats are detected, the user will receive a notification.

Attackers constantly update their schemes and develop malware, including for mobile devices. This is adware, spyware, stalker software, as well as various Trojans. In the third quarter of 2022 alone, our solutions prevented more than five million attacks on mobile users in the world. told Mikhail Gerber, Director of the Consumer Business Department of Kaspersky Lab

All applications available in the store are checked manually and automatically during the moderation stage. But there are third-party, unofficial sources from which users can install applications, they are not always reliable. Applications with malicious code can disable smartphone functions, steal personal information or monitor the device. Additional security checks will minimize the risk of attacks and protect users' personal data. told Ilya Sverchkov, COO of RuStore

The standard check will take place once a day. For verification, unnecessary permissions are not requested and personal data of users is not analyzed. Functionality is available starting with RuStore version 1.3.10 (166).

For full data protection on devices, experts recommend:

• download applications only on official resources;
• Use, in addition to the basic protection offered by RuStore, a solution that will provide an additional level of protection - including against phishing and scams;
• regularly update applications - along with updates, developers release patches with fixes for vulnerabilities and bugs;
• pay attention to what permissions the user gives applications;
• use two-factor authentication in all services where possible.

Appearance of the "Interesting" section

The main page of the RuStore store is the "Interesting" section, which contains up-to-date information for users: applications of different categories, thematic and event collections. Users will be able to better navigate the store and learn about new products, and developers will be able to use collections as a promotion tool. This was announced on March 14, 2023 by VK (formerly Mail.ru Group).

The selections became more noticeable thanks to the updated design in the form of a cover with an illustration of the selection theme. Publishers of selected services will be able to attract more users and better interact with the audience.

The RuStore edition creates interesting and relevant content for users on a weekly basis. For example, from the selection, you can find out about the release of a new series, choose a streaming service to watch and subscribe. During the existence of the story, the editors have released more than 100 collections, for example, from applications that will help you learn foreign languages, or with games for home parties.

The functionality of the store is constantly expanding: it became possible to download its developments for legal entities and individuals, reviews and ratings, notifications, analytics tools, recommendations and thematic collections, monetization were launched. RuStore already has about 80 of the top 100 most popular Russian applications and more than 5,400 other services from 4,000 development companies.

Development of rules for preset Rustore for all devices sold in Russia from the Ministry of Digital Development

On March 9, 2023, it became known about the pre-installation of applications for computers, smartphones, tablets and TVs sold in Russia developed Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation of new rules.

One of the innovations concerns the obligation of device manufacturers "to ensure the full integration of a single application store at the same level that is provided to other application stores (the copyright holders of which are device manufacturers and operating systems developers)." The manufacturer is not exempted from preliminary installation of programs if a ban or other restriction on such preliminary installation is established by the copyright holder of the operating system, the D-Russia.ru newspaper reports with reference to the draft government decree developed by the Ministry of Digital Science.

It also follows from the document that the requirement to pre-install a single Rustore app store also applies to TV manufacturers running an operating system that allows applications to be installed.

As stated in the explanatory note to the project, these measures are necessary "to exclude evasion from the preliminary installation of programs by manufacturers of technically complex goods under the pretext of a ban or other restriction on such actions in an agreement with the copyright holder of the operating system."

In addition, according to the Ministry of Digital Development initiative, the pre-installation software will be supplemented with a new class - "programs whose main purpose is to check product labeling codes." We are talking about the Honest Sign application.

Thanks to the preliminary installation of the Honest Sign application, the user will be able to verify the authenticity and quality of goods subject to mandatory labeling, the press service of the Ministry of Digital Development said.

It is assumed that the decree will come into force on September 1, 2023.^[8]

Monthly audience - 10 million users

According to Mediascope, in January 2023, the audience of the official Russian application store RuStore reached 10 million people across Russia over the age of 12. This was announced on February 27, 2023 to TAdviser by representatives of the RuStore project, explaining that the data are based on the Cross Web study, which used the Android only approach.

As of the end of February 2023, 5 thousand applications from 3.6 thousand developers are posted in the RuStore. The leaders in downloads are: financial applications - 38% of all downloads, services for life and work - 12%, applications in the Entertainment category - 9%, in the Purchases category - 8%.

According to representatives of the RuStore project, since its launch in May 2022, the Russian application store has been continuously developing the functionality of the platform - users can install and update their applications, leave reviews and assessments, and legal entities and individuals can download their applications. The store features applications from technology companies, banks, mobile operators, marketplaces and other players.

At the same time, monetization and promotion tools inside the store are available to developers, users can pay for purchases in applications in all popular ways.

Finalizing Beta and Opening Console Access to Foreign Developers

The official Russian shop applications for Android announced the exit from beta mode, and testings also opens access to the console for foreign developers. This was announced on February 8, 2023 by the company. VK

The company is developing RuStore as a convenient tool for users, and as a platform for developing the business of developers. At the current stage (data for February 2023), all the necessary functionality has already been implemented: users can install and update the necessary applications, evaluate them and make purchases. Publishers, including foreign ones, - to post applications and make a profit. The company also plans to update the store design and make it even more convenient, said VK's vice president of post services development and the RuStore app store Ivan Myzdrikov.

In the application store, users are already available: simple authorization by known methods (by phone number, via VK ID, Sberbank ID, Yandex ID); Quickly download and install applications and updates editorial collections with current content, adaptive search and the ability to leave reviews and ratings - so you can quickly find and choose the best services. About 5,000 applications have already been published in RuStore, including the most downloaded services. In them, you can make built-in purchases, pay for subscriptions and paid applications in any convenient way - a bank card, through the SBP and from your mobile phone account .

Foreign publishers gained access to the localized console - the interface was transferred to. English RuStore offers an ever-growing audience and traffic, full functionality, opportunities for monetizations and promotion. Development companies, including foreign residents, countries can receive about payments information purchases, their quantity and cost. A specially developed push notification service and the ability to respond to reviews allows them to be on communications with users and report news. There are already 3,500 publishers registered on the platform, half are indie developers.

Appearance of "Sber ID" and payment on SberPay

RuStore users can now buy paid applications, games, movies, music or pay for a subscription with any IDbank card saved in Sberbank. If the user is authorized by Sber ID, then payment data does not have to be entered manually - the cards will be pulled up automatically. Sberbank announced this on February 1, 2023.

Also, users have access to fast payment using the SberPay service. To make a payment, click on the SberPay button and confirm payment to SberBank Online without entering additional information.

Шаблон:Quote 'author=said Andrey Belevtsev, Senior Vice President, CTO, Head of the Technologies Unit of Sberbank.

{{quote 'author=noted Ivan Myzdrikov, vice president of VK, head of RuStore. | We strive to make the app store as convenient as possible and provide our users with access to the maximum number of services. With Sberbank technologies, they can easily pay for their favorite games and buy virtual goods in applications,}}

The emergence of paid applications

Paid applications have become available in the official Russian story - primarily games. Users can pay for purchases with Russian bank cards, using the Fast Payment System and from their mobile phone account. This was reported on January 18, 2023 in VK.

The company continues to develop the functionality of RuStore for users - now they have the opportunity to pay for their favorite games and the necessary services in convenient ways. The creation of infrastructure for the business of Russian developers is another of the tasks of the project. The company strives to create all conditions for them so that they can develop and earn with us. The launch of paid applications in the store will allow developers to additionally monetize their services, said RuStore operations director Ilya Sverchkov.

The RuStore update expands the capabilities of publishers. The developer's personal account displays statistics on payments: information about purchases, their quantity and cost.

The console also has tools for quickly publishing applications - after loading, the service is automatically sent to moderation and after passing it appears in the page. Developers will also have the opportunity to manually publish applications. You can schedule the publication for a specific day and time or postpone it. With this tool, you can automate the release of applications or their update.

To collect feedback and debug work, placement on the percentage of users is available - this allows you to gradually implement the necessary updates to a part of the audience, gradually increasing its volume. Users are randomly sampled.  

Appearance of the service Kontur.Tolk "

Services from SKB Kontur come to RuStore, which announced this on January 17, 2023.

The first was the service, videoconferences Contour. Tolk which came to replace Zoom and. Skype More. here

2022

Emergence of recommendations and thematic collections

shop applications App cards have been updated in the official RuStore: everything important to the user information is now displayed on the first screen. When you open, you will see ratings, reviews, the number of downloads and the size of the application. From the application card, you can go and see other developer applications. This was announced on December 5, 2022 by the company. VK

The content of the application page depends on whether it is installed or not. For installed services, the interface for valuation and revocation is displayed; if the application is not downloaded to the phone, the user will see detailed information about it. 

Users have become available recommendations of similar services - they are selected thematically. After downloading, they can be immediately appreciated. The download process has also become better: now the application will continue to download in the background, even if communication problems arise during the download.  

Thematic collections of applications from the editorial office appeared in the store. This will allow users to quickly find the applications they need. In the future, collections can be used to promote services. For example, the collections "Essentials," "Finance," "Food Delivery" and other current lists have already been launched, which will be regularly updated. 

In October 2022, RuStore's monthly audience exceeded 7 million people, according to a Cross Web Mediascope study implemented on the Android only approach. The app store already has 25 of the most famous Russian applications and about 3 thousand other services from more than 1800 developers. 

Audience growth sixfold to 7 million people per month

The monthly audience of RuStore in October 2022 exceeded 7 million people. The data are based on the Cross Web Mediascope study, implemented on the Android only approach. Audience measurements have been conducted since July 2022. This was announced on November 24, 2022 by VK

RuStore for November 2022 leads the audience among local app stores.

In November 2022, about 3,000 thousand applications were posted in the official Russian Android application store and more than 2,000 development companies were represented. The RuStore application has been installed 3.5 million times, more than 8 million times the applications have been downloaded from the store since its launch.

Earlier in RuStore it became possible to publish applications for legal entities and individuals. Reviews, ratings and promotion tools are available in the app store. Users have the ability to make purchases inside applications and pay for subscriptions. The search has been updated in the story - it has become more adaptive and recognizes what they are looking for, regardless of the language of the request or typos.

In the near future, RuStore will launch thematic collections of applications, add new methods of payment and authorization, as well as the possibility of monetization for developers of individuals.

Inclusion in the Bug Bounty program on the Standoff 365 Bug Bounty platform

VK on November 15, 2022 announced the placement of RuStore in the Bug Bounty program on the Standoff 365 Bug Bounty platform, developed by Positive Technologies.

If vulnerabilities are identified in RuStore, security researchers will receive rewards from the company from 3 to 60 thousand rubles, depending on the level of threat.

Security is a priority for RuStore. At all stages of working with the side, our users and developers must be sure that they are protected. Therefore, all applications published in the application store undergo mandatory testing for malicious code using Kaspersky Lab technologies and manual moderation. The inclusion of RuStore in the vulnerability search program will help us make security performance even higher, "said Aleksei Volkov, vice president and director of information security at VK.

In the first three months of the Bug Bounty program, VK paid three million rubles to security researchers. The company received 300 reports on the company's vulnerabilities from external experts. VK specialists recognized more than half of the messages as significant, the vulnerabilities identified on their basis were eliminated.

Inclusion in the list of programs required for pre-installation on smartphones from 2023

In November 2022, the Government of the Russian Federation included the Russian RuStore application store in the list of programs required for preliminary installation on electronic devices in 2023.

Search optimization

Search in RuStore has become more convenient for users. VK announced this on October 31, 2022.

Search has become more adaptive, recognizes what they are looking for regardless of language or typos. At the stage of entering the request, users will receive drop-down prompts - if the search recognized a specific application, then it will be displayed and it can be opened. Also, the updated service retains a history - the last five user requests.

Search works on the basis of VK technologies: the desired application is easy to find, even if the user uses transliteration or is sealed.

The design of the list of applications has changed - buttons have appeared for instant installation or downloading updates. The user does not need to go to the service page, you can download and update the application immediately.

At the end of October 2022, the 20 most common the Russian applications and about 2.3 thousand other services from 1300 development companies are available in RuStore. The stora app has been installed 2.7 million times, nearly 6 million downloads from stora since launch.

Additional opportunities for monetization and user interaction

On October 14, 2022, VK announced that the official Russian RuStore application store has expanded functionality for developers. Application authors can track payments, return funds, respond to user feedback - this will allow them to control income and be in touch with the audience. Users got access to instant download and update applications: for this you do not need to open the page, just click on the desired button in the list.

According to the company, as of October 2022, monetization in RuStore is available to legal entities: they can earn through paid subscriptions or through one-time purchases. Payments can be managed in the console: developers see information on purchases and, at the request of the user, return funds. Instructions for connecting monetization, creating paid goods and subscriptions in the application are available in the "Help" section of the RuStore.

RuStore users can also manage and control expenses: the personal account displays the history of payments and the option to cancel payments and subscriptions. For example, to unsubscribe and return funds, just click on the corresponding button in your account.

For developers, they added responses to feedback to applications in order to be in touch with users, answer their questions in a timely manner and help those who have encountered difficulties in use.

Users, in turn, can evaluate reviews, like them or dislike them for useful reviews - the most relevant will get into the top. Since the launch of the functionality, users have left tens of thousands of reviews and ratings. At the same time, reviews are pre-moderated to prevent spam and bots in the store. In the list of applications with the highest rating for October 2022, banking applications are in the lead: SberBank Online, VTB Online and WORLD Pay.

As of October 2022, the RuStore audience amounted to 1.76 million people across Russia over 12 years old. More than 1.6 thousand applications have already been posted in the store and more than 1,100 development companies are represented.

Extend support for app publishers through the end of the year

On October 13, 2022 VK , the company announced that it had extended the application publisher support program in RuStore until the end of the year. With its help, developers - individuals legal and individuals - can increase the income from advertizing monetizations their own, applications available Russian in the store.

The program has been running since June 2022. The number of applications from RuStore that host ads through the myTarget partner network is growing by an average of 30% per month. After the launch of the initiative, the number of listings in them increased by an average of 200% month to month, and payments to partners from VK - by 120%.

To connect to the program, you need to add a link to the application from RuStore in the account of the myTarget partner network, configure blocks for displaying ads and connect myTarget. SDK Android The app will show ads that advertisers have launched through the myTarget and platforms. VK Advertising

By, in to data Mediascope August 2022, the mobile audience of the storm amounted to more than 1.76 million users over 12 years old throughout. Russia More than 1.6 thousand applications are available in the catalog for October 2022, which have been downloaded 3.7 million times. Any author can download applications to the page after registration and verification. To attract and retain users, publishers have access to push notifications, analytical links and buttons "Available in RuStore" for placement on external platforms.

The Ministry of Digital Development has expanded the list of mandatory applications in RuStore

At the end of September 2022, the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation announced an increase in the list of mobile applications that are mandatory for placement in the RuStore. According to the departmental order, the following products should appear in the Russian analogue of the Google Play store:

1. Programs for computers whose countries of origin are the Russian Federation or other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union; These programs must be pre-installed on individual types of technically complex goods.

2. Mobile applications included in the unified registers of Russian and Eurasian software and (or) the national fund of algorithms and programs for computers (NFAP).

3. Mobile applications (except for the applications specified in paragraphs 1 and 2) intended for use by an unlimited number of persons created with the involvement of budget funds of the budget system of the Russian Federation, including those created by state bodies, local self-government bodies, management bodies of state extra-budgetary funds, subordinate organizations, including:

• "Public services";
• "Public services Culture;
• "Public services Auto";
• "Public services. We decide together ";
• "AUSN of the Federal Tax Service of Russia";
• "My Checks Online";
• "Registry Office";
• " My Tax";
• "Entrepreneur's Personal Account";
• "FL Taxes";
• Check Checks;
• "I am an inspector";
• "Work in Russia";
• "FSSP Mobile Application";
• "Social Navigator";
• "Public services St. Petersburg";
• "Parking Lots of St. Petersburg";
• "Our St. Petersburg";
• "Safe St. Petersburg";
• «Visit Petersburg»;
• "Public services of the Moscow Region";
• "Dobrodel";
• "Public services Moscow";
• "Parking Lots of Russia";
• "MES Diary";
• "MES Library";
• "Metro of Moscow";
• "Moscow Transport";
• EMIAS.INFO;
• "My Moscow-Appendix mos.ru";
• "Electronic House Moscow";
• "Active Citizen";
• "Our City";
• "State Key."

4. Mobile applications intended for use by an unlimited number of persons (except for the applications specified in paragraphs 1 to 3) owned by:

• organizers of information dissemination on the Internet;
• owners of news aggregators;
• owners of audiovisual services;
• owners of social networks;
• subjects of natural monopolies;
• telecom operators;
• organization of the financial market;
• operator of the state information system for monitoring the turnover of goods subject to mandatory labeling by means of identification;

accredited organizations operating in the field of information technology; legal entities included in accordance with Federal Law No. 135-FZ "On Protection of Competition" dated July 26, 2006 into one group of persons with owners of mobile applications specified in paragraphs 1-9 of this clause.^[9]

The ability to publish applications for individual developers

On September 16, 2022, VK announced that individuals had the opportunity to publish applications in the RuStore. To download, the developer needs to register and verify - this is necessary for the security of users.

Applications and developers in RuStore undergo mandatory moderation and verification to prevent downloads. harmful content To register, the developer needs to specify the VK ID, the address of the site or page in, social networks enter the number and, phone mail after which go through online verification: for this you need to upload a photo of your passport and show your face to the camera. Algorithms check the match in data a few minutes. The platform rules are the same for individuals and legal entities.

"User and developer security, platform convenience and data privacy are our priorities in working on RuStore. The registration procedure is as simple as possible - similar mechanics use car sharing applications, services for purchase and sale and rental. The check will protect users and publishers from fraudsters, "said project manager Ivan Myzdrikov.

Earlier, VK reported that RuStore was installed on user gadgets 925 thousand times, and the number of app downloads from the Russian store exceeded 2 million.

Availability of application promotion tools: push notifications, analytical links and buttons

The company VK announced on September 9, 2022 that the official Russian shop applications RuStore continues to develop the platform's functionality. Developers got access to promotion tools: they can connect and use the push notification service, create links leading mobile application to links and add buttons "Available in RuStore."

RuStore users will receive notifications about updates, promotions, discounts in applications. Developers will be able to create and configure marketing push notifications and report their news. The update is especially important for development companies that do not have access to foreign platforms to interact with users.

Users will be able to manage notifications in their account. Developers can easily create and customize them through their personal account. To do this, you need to create a push notification project for your application, there can be several of them, for example, for testing and further work. When creating a project, you need to come up with a name, specify the name of the Android package and the signature fingerprint.

RuStore continues to expand functionality for users and create conditions for the business of Russian developers. This is what recent updates to the app store are aimed at, for example, the ability to monetize and expand tools for promotion. Developers should be sure that they will always be able to contact their users, regardless of external circumstances. Push notifications improve the interaction of clients with the application and help keep users, said project manager, Ivan Myzdrikov.

RuStore also has the ability to create diplomas - special links leading to the store or to the application installed on the smartphone. They reduce the number of intermediate user actions and help you immediately get to the desired page. In addition, application authors can create a "Available in RuStore" button in their personal account for placement on the site and other platforms.

Users will be able to make purchases inside applications, and developers will monetize applications

The company VK announced on August 29, 2022 that developers will be able to monetize applications to based on, and Android users will buy subscriptions and make one-time purchases in RuStore. This functionality is implemented using technologies. Sberbank

Payment is available to users in one of the most famous ways. To make payments in applications posted in RuStore, you need to link a bank card in your personal account.

Many developers have lost the ability to monetize their applications on other platforms in, Russia but will now be able to do so on RuStore. This is a logical step in the development of the service, which was expected not only by the developers, but also by users. They will be able to easily and safely pay for services virtual goods in their favorite applications: pump game characters, buy, e-books subscribe to films and much more, commented Ivan Myzdrikov, project manager of RuStore.

RuStore provides monetization tools familiar to developers, and also reduces the time for settlements on accepted payments to one working day. In the future, other opportunities for monetization will become available, and users will receive even more convenient payment methods.

If a developer monetizes his application in RuStore through a paid subscription, he can specify the duration of the subscription and other parameters or payment restrictions on the application page. You can monetize the application with one-time payments, for example, when paying for gaming currency or accessing a new gaming level.

The billing solution underlying monetization services in RuStore was implemented by the Sberbank team in a fairly short time, with a focus on high quality and security for developers and users. Sberbank's experience and technology reliability are a guarantor in the joint development of RuStore, the company helps Russian developers not to lose revenue due to external factors, and users to have access to the applications they need, said Denis Filippov, CEO of SberDevices, Vice President for Digital Surfaces, Salute Sberbank.

In order to start accepting payments from users, the developer needs to activate the monetization function in the RuStore personal account. The commission will be only 15%.

Users will be able to share opinions and leave ratings in the RuStore

The official Russian shop applications RuStore continues to develop the functionality of the platform. Authorized users can rate installed applications on a five-point scale, as well as write, edit and delete reviews. This will allow users to find and choose the best applications in different categories, and developers to receive the opposite. communication This was announced VK by the company on August 24, 2022.

The application page in RuStore will display ratings and reviews that can be sorted by novelty and tone (positive and negative). Sorting is configured when you go to the Ratings and Reviews section from the application page.

If the application is not installed on the phone, users can view its average rating, the number of individual ratings and the total number of user ratings.

Users will be able to edit and delete comments in their personal account in the "My Reviews" section or by clicking on the feedback on the application page. They can also evaluate other reviews that seemed useful or, on the contrary, to express disagreement with them.

RuStore is becoming even more convenient for users - choosing the best of more than 1100 applications will become easier, and publishers will be able to receive operational feedback and refine the functionality of their services. By the end of 2022, the payment system and the push notification platform will be launched, noted the project manager, Ivan Myzdrikov.

Mishustin approved VK as the operator of a single application store

In mid-August 2022, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order that determined that the creation and operation of a "program for electronic computers, which is designed to search, view and purchase programs for electronic computers used by consumers using technically complex goods (Russian application store), is provided by VK. The document will enter into force on September 1, 2022.

Thus, VK is chosen as the only organization that ensures the creation and operation of a single application store. Such a store developed by the company is called RuStore.

In July 2022, Ministry of Digital Development proposed to include RuStore in the list of programs required for pre-installation on devices released in Russia and other EAEU countries. The explanatory note to the draft resolution states that RuStore will be preinstalled on smartphones and tablets instead of the "program for accessing socially significant information resources Applist," released by the Ministry of Digital Development on April 6, 2021.

This is not a separate application store, but a catalog with the names of programs of domestic developers, structured by category. For example, "For every day," "Media and Media," "Culture," "State Applications," etc. If you click on the desired application, the aggregator will open its page on Google Play. Applist is on the list of mandatory pre-installation programs, which the government approved in January 2021.

The decision to replace Applist with RuStore is motivated by the fact that "the functionality of a single application store duplicates and expands the capabilities of the Applist application." The Ministry of Economic Development, Rospotrebnadzor and the Federal Antimonopoly Service are indicated as co-executors of ^[10]

Approval of the list of mandatory programs in the Russian application store

In mid-August 2022, it became known about the order of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation about mandatory applications that should be placed in the RuStore catalog - the Russian analogue of Google Play. The list includes four applications from the Public services family:

• "Public services" (allows you to draw up documents, make an appointment, order certificates and extracts and receive other government services);
• "Public services Culture" (a service for using the "Pushkin Card" for young people, through which you can purchase tickets for events);
• "Auto State Services" (provides access to electronic documents for car owners and allows you to receive and pay fines);
• "Public services. We solve together "(allows you to notify municipal authorities about problems in the city, for example, about garbage or road conditions).

The document approved the list of "programs for electronic computers placed in the program for electronic computers, which is designed to search, view and purchase programs for electronic computers used by consumers using technically complex goods, without fail." The official Russian store will be RuStore, launched by the VK holding at the end of May 2022, the service will be pre-installed on devices imported into the country.

Another order of the Ministry of Digital Development approved the rules for the functioning of the Russian application store. Both documents will enter into force on September 1, 2022.

In early August 2022, it also became known that NashStore and RuStore stores could be allowed to host applications with pirated content. Platform representatives say they will only allow services that comply with the law. If parallel content imports are legalized, pirated content would satisfy those conditions, lawyers said. Order of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation dated 01.08.2022 No. 574 On approval of the list of programs for electronic computers placed in the program for electronic computers, which is designed to search, view and purchase programs for electronic computers used by consumers using technically complex goods, mandatory

Add categorization of gaming applications

Every day more and more applications become available to RuStore users. This was announced on August 2, 2022 by VK. To make the experience of using the store even more convenient, the team improves navigation and adds the necessary categories.

So the search for games in RuStore has become faster for users - the store has a division into categories. Sections have appeared in the "Games" tab, applications are divided by format: arcades, quizzes, games with AR, and by topic, for example, children's or family. More than 149 games have been uploaded to the catalog, their number is growing daily.

Games are one of the most popular applications in RuStore, the category is in the top 5 in terms of the number of applications installed by users. In the first place among users of the action shooter Warface: GO. The second most popular was Left to Survive. Closes the rating of the most popular games RuStore role-playing game "Tempest: Sea of ​ ​ Pirates."

Hosting more than 1,000 mobile apps

On July 13, 2022, VK announced that more than 1000 mobile applications were posted on RuStore. VK has already noted 500 thousand store installations on user gadgets and more than 1.1 million app downloads since the launch of the store.

At the launch of the RuStore beta in May 2022, 100 applications were available to users: VK, Yandex and Sberbank services, Public services, mobile operator applications, marketplaces, games. Less than two months later, the number of applications downloaded to the store increased 10 times, and the number of downloads exceeded one million, said project manager Ivan Myzdrikov. - We continue to improve the functionality of RuStore so that the platform is as safe, understandable and convenient for users and developers as possible. Soon, the push notification platform will be integrated into the store, a payment system will appear, as well as app ratings. Analytical and marketing tools will be launched by the end of the year.

Financial applications are the leaders in downloads from RuStore - more than 50% of all downloads fall on them. This is followed by the categories "Tools" - useful services for life and work, they account for 10% of downloads, "Entertainment" - 9% and "Purchases" - 6%.

Russia adopted a law on the creation of a mobile application store, which will be mandatory for all smartphones

On July 6, 2022, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a law on the creation of a mobile application store, which will be mandatory for all smartphones.

According to the document, software included in the list approved by the federal executive body for the development and implementation of state policy and legal regulation in the field of information technology will be downloaded to the application store.

According to RIA Novosti, the bill on the creation of a domestic store of mobile applications in Russia, submitted to the State Duma by the Government of the Russian Federation, was never considered by it in the first reading. However, the norm on the creation of a Russian application store appeared in the second reading of the bill on strengthening the protection of personal data of Russians. This amendment was included in the bill on strengthening the protection of personal data of Russians in order to speed up its consideration in the State Duma, explained the head of the information policy committee Alexander Khinshtein.

The provision on the creation of a Russian application store was adopted within the framework of the law on the obligation of personal data operators to inform about incidents with their personal data databases.

The need to create a store in the government was explained by sanctions, uncertainty with the supply of equipment and disconnection from the IT infrastructure.

Currently, the work of foreign app stores is largely limited, and therefore there is a risk of their termination. The proposed approach will ensure, without the cost of the federal budget, the fault tolerance and uninterrupted provision of Internet services, private and public services to Russian citizens, - said in a document that the Government of the Russian Federation submitted to the State Duma.[11]

Hosting the Smart Engines Demo Application

Smart Engines on July 1, 2022 published its demo mobile application for Android devices in RuStore and NashStore stores. Read more here.

Introduction of a bill on the creation of a domestic application store

The Russian government has submitted to the State Duma a bill on the creation of a domestic application store. The purpose of the bill is to regulate the creation of a Russian application store. The Ministry of Digital Development announced this on June 23, 2022.

The list of applications that should be downloaded to the store determines the Ministry of Digital Development of Russia.

The mobile application store is created by the Russian operator of the social network, which is determined by the Government, according to the rules and principles that are approved by the Russian Ministry of Digital Development. But the list of applications is not limited only to mandatory ones.

Launch of promotion of applications from RuStore on "VK Advertising"

The company VK on June 3, 2022 announced the provision of advertisers with the opportunity to promote on the platform VK Advertising mobile applications for RuStore Android Russian. Advertisers can increase the number of application installations by integrating stor VK Advertizing with and analyzing results without additional services analysts and attribution. More. here

Adding the Работа.ру Application

The mobile application of the service for job search and Работа.ру employees appeared in the Russian application stores RuStore and NashStore. The company announced this on May 27, 2022. Read more here.

Beta Launch

On May 25, 2022, VK announced that, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, it had developed and launched a beta version of the RuStore app store for users of mobile devices running operating system Android. smartphone You can download RuStore on the official store page rustore.ru.

At the start of the beta version, more than 100 applications are available to users, including VK, Yandex and Sberbank services, Public services, mobile operator applications, marketplaces, games and more. The number of apps in the store is growing daily. For part of the developers a personal account has been opened, which allows you to independently download applications to the RuStore. In in the near future, the personal account will be open to everyone. User support and developers in 24/7 mode are carried out by a special VK service service.

Kaspersky Lab and VK security systems are integrated into the RuStore beta. Kaspersky Lab solutions will help VK moderate downloadable applications - check them for malicious code. According to the project roadmap, it is planned to that in the summer of 2022, the RuStore will integrate a push notification platform, a payment system, and app ratings. By the end of the year, analytical and marketing tools.

Creating Russian a storm is the most important task dictated by market conditions. We have carried out great preparatory work both in terms of legislative regulation and in terms of creating favorable conditions for the joint work of representatives of the Russian IT industry on this project. The initiative to create RuStore comes from business - and this is the right way to launch a high-quality and safe service that is convenient for both users and application developers. The work on the store is led by the VK team, which in partnership with other IT companies creates it as a commercial project, without. state financings I am sure that, following a clearly developed plan, the team will be able to create a popular and competitive application store, - commented.Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev

RuStore is a full-length application store that will have all the most secure services for both users and developers. VK creates it in partnership with Russian IT companies with the support of Russian Ministry of Digital Development. This is a vivid example of effective collaboration, when IT market players united to solve a common problem for the benefit of users. We are at the very beginning of the journey. We have a clear plan for the consistent development of RuStore, the implementation of which will allow us to integrate the necessary systems and platforms into the camp within the specified time frame. I am sure that RuStore will be in demand both among users and developers - and it has everything to become a large Russian application store, - said VK CEO Vladimir Kiriyenko.

We welcome the creation of a domestic mobile app store. At the same time, we understand that the security data and money of users requires comprehensive protection. Before publication in RuStore, applications will be checked by our solutions for malicious code. This is necessary to identify a variety of cyber threats, including Trojan programs, unwanted, advertizing spyware and. phishing software For this, the latest protective technologies of the company are used, including on the basis. If machine learning necessary, applications will also be analyzed by a sandbox solution, a tool that allows behavioral analysis files and detection of advanced threats during the study, "explained Kaspersky Mikhail Pribochiy Lab Managing Director in Russia and. countries CIS

Installation of the service on smartphones imported into the Russian Federation

The Russian RuStore application store will have to be preinstalled on all smartphones imported into the Russian Federation. This was announced on May 18, 2022 by the head of the Ministry of Digital Science Maksut Shadayev. According to him, the department submitted the corresponding draft federal law to the government.

As Kommersant writes with reference to this document, it makes changes to the laws on consumer protection and information, introducing the concept of a "single application store." It is defined as a program for searching, viewing and purchasing programs for "electronic computers." For developers of applications from a special list of the government, their placement in the store is mandatory. It itself must be pre-installed on all "technically complex devices" in the Russian Federation. The amendments, if adopted, will come into force on the day of publication, their implementation will not require budgetary funds, the newspaper reports.

In RATEK, legislative innovations were piled by an increase in the burden on manufacturers, which "is unlikely to help the development of the market." The representative of RATEK, which unites Apple, Google, Samsung, Dell, M.Video, Anton Guskov recalled that there is an Applist in applications that are necessarily installed on mobile devices. It was developed by the Ministry of Digital Development and includes links to mandatory Russian applications for pre-installation. Applist is "basically an app store," Guskov said.

According to experts interviewed by the publication, the new rules will be able to be fulfilled only by non-popular domestic smartphone brands that are assembled in China, or some Chinese, which by May 2022 retain supplies, for example Realme. But in the context of a reduction in the smartphone market in Russia, it is simply strange to tighten the pre-installation requirements, experts say.^[12]

Service launch

In May 2022, the VK holding announced the creation of a Russian application store, which was called RuStore. According to the head of the company, Vladimir Kiriyenko, at the first stage the service will function in beta status. The launch took place on May 25.

As the head of the Ministry of Digital Science Maksut Shadayev noted, of all Russian application stores, only RuStore will be legally regulated. The state will not prohibit other marketplaces, as it will not participate in their development. It is noted that the project was implemented without attracting budget funds. At the same time, the costs were not disclosed.

The RuStore will have a developer's office, an application listing and security integration from Kaspersky Lab, specified in the presentation of the application store. From the summer of 2022, payment systems, Push notifications, app and developer ratings will appear in the store. By the end of 2022, RuStore will introduce tools for analytics and marketing.

Kiriyenko also noted that developers will not be forced to host applications on this platform. Shadayev stated the same.

We will not force developers to take applications from foreign app marketplaces and transfer them to our app store. So far, we believe that in our jurisdiction we should compete in economic and technological ways. If the market can do it better than us, let the market do it. Further, the question of the form of implementation, profit, we give it to 10 companies. VK will start investing in this story, then we will see how it will be, "the minister said.

On May 16, 2022, it became known that VK had submitted applications to Rospatent for the registration of a trademark of the RuStore application store. It was clarified that the company plans to register three logos for the service.^[13]

VK determined by the main developer of the Russian mobile application store

VK Holding has been identified as the main developer of the Russian mobile application store. On April 26, 2022, the head of the Ministry of Digital Science Maksut Shadayev told reporters about this. According to him, the store is being created in cooperation with other digital ecosystems, but he did not name specific companies.

There is a practice of creating separate app stores in the world, but unfortunately, this practice only exists for the Android platform. We agreed with large Russian bigtech companies, primarily with the VK group - it took on the task of developing this application store, - Shadayev said on the air of the Russia-24 TV channel

He stressed that the project is not being implemented for budget money, since the Ministry of Digital Development considers it very important "that it be a full-fledged ecosystem that would itself develop and be regulated by the largest market participants."

The Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media announced that the beta version of the Russian app store will be launched before the end of May 2022. On April 26, 2022, he added that development began "about a month and a half ago, when there was a risk that our developers could be disconnected from stores of applications on the iOS platform, on the Android platform."

Creating your own application store is inexpensive and requires quite simple software, said Eldar Murtazin, an analyst at Mobile Research Group, in an interview with Kommersant.

The main difficulty is the conclusion of agreements with developers. Huawei has spent several years attracting a core pool of popular apps to AppGallery. Not all foreign developers will want their software to be in the Russian application store, such cooperation carries reputational risks, the expert said.

Order for the development of a store of domestic applications for mobile devices from the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin

Prime Minister RFMikhail Mishustin instructed Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation to create a store of domestic applications for mobile devices. An analogue of the App Store and Google Play in the Russian Federation must be developed before June 1, 2022.

The task was set following the results of Mikhail Mishustin's speech in the State Duma on April 7, 2022 with a report on the work of the Cabinet of Ministers for 2021. Then the head of the Government of the Russian Federation drew attention to the fact that foreign platforms - the App Store and Google Play - can limit Russian users' ability to download applications. He appealed to Russian developers to create a domestic ecosystem.

According to data to newspaper sources, Kommersant three Russian companies can take part in the development: "," "" and SberYandex. VK The interlocutor of the publication in the telecommunications market said that Sberbank he was developing a store based on his corporate application store. SberStore Yandex is also considering restarting its store "," Yandex.Store which closed in 2020.

VK can consider participation in the development: according to one of the sources, the most logical thing would be to launch an application store based on MY.Games. Sberbank and Yandex did not comment on the information, and VK confirmed that they are creating an application store for developers, which is planned to be launched in May 2022.

{{quote "Starting with iOS 14.4, the community tries in vain to hack the system, and this seems almost impossible. With each new system update, Apple is closing more holes, "he explained to the newspaper. }} Co-founder of the company for the development of mobile applications Arcsinus Pavel Golub said that you can make a store for iOS in Russia only by the same methods that were used for hacked iPhones. The head of iOS development red_mad_robot Alexey Tyurnin, in turn, called this option unrealistic. ^[14]

Notes