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Rental Tablet Computers for Tourists Planned

Central Telegraph, a state-run Internet provider, plans to rent out tablet computers to Moscow tourists, according to an interview that the company's director Rodion Levochka gave to Prime.

The tablets would have Internet access and applications useful for getting around Moscow, such as maps, navigators and taxi order services. Tourists would be able to rent the tablets for 150 rubles per day, which includes the price of Internet access.

The company plans to develop one application in-house. Levochka did not say what application he was talking about, but said that it will take at least a half a year to develop.

The tablets will be available for rent not earlier than 2014.

Levochka said he expects the new product to be in high demand. Although most foreign travelers have their own smart-phones and tablets, they might not know about local convenience services, such as Yandex.Taxi, he said.

"If [the tourist] can, for 150 rubles per day, get a device that has all the necessary things for life in Moscow, he will use this service and rent the tablet computer," Levochka said.

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