iPhones in Russia to preinstall state-backed messaging app

Earlier today, the Russian government announced a new rule requiring all phones and tablets to ship with MAX, its state-backed messenger app, preinstalled. Here are the details.

As reported by Reuters, starting September 1, “gadget” makers will have to include MAX among the apps that must come preinstalled. That includes phones and tablets.

RuStore, the country’s domestic application store, which up to now came preinstalled on Android devices, will also have to come…