There’s always fanfare and lines associated with the launch of the iPhone. Now, Apple has finally made a deal with Mobil Telesystems which will be officially launching the iPhone in Russia.

Though the iPhone is officially not in sale in Moscow, many people from the upwardly mobile class have been seen carrying the device. It is considered a status symbol and it’s the craze with the young professionals.

The imported sales in Russia is estimated at 20,000 per month and industry analysts predict that by the end of this year, the number of iPhones operating in the country could be 700,000.

The phones will hit stores in October but the the date of release has not been mentioned. It is not clear whether Apple will be having an exclusive agreement with MTS or other carriers will also get a slice of the pie.

The iPhone’s popularity is immense and the Russians are already in favor of the device. Will the iPhone have mass appeal in Russia? Going by the experience in India, I guess a lot depends on the subscription plans set by the carriers.