The British mobile app Trafi, designed to monitor the movement of public transport, has launched in Russia, the Lenta.ru news website reported Wednesday.
The service is now available in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the company's chief executive, Мartynas Gudonavicius, told Lenta.ru, adding that in the near future it will also start operating in the cities of Rostov-on-Don and Chelyabinsk.
The decision to launch in Russia was triggered by growing interest toward the application in the country. The application was being downloaded in Russia even before Trafi came to the market, Gudonavicius said.
Trafi plans to invest $1 million to develop the app in Russia, he said.
The service will have to compete in Russia with domestic mobile apps such as ETransport and Yandex.Transport, which provide similar services.
Trafi is currently available in seven countries around the world and has more than 1 million users, according to Lenta.ru.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
