Smartphone firms to feel the force of Russia's Yota

Chinese smartphone producers, beware. The Russians are coming.

Less than a week after Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a domestically designed dual-screen smartphone as a State gift to President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Yota Devices, maker of the unique handset, is planning to challenge Chinese players including Xiaomi Corp.

According to Vladislav Martynov, chief executive officer of the Moscow-based company, the YotaPhone 2 will enter the Chinese market by the first quarter of 2015, largely via online channels.