Finnish platform holder Jolla has unveiled Yandex as an official app store partner, with the Russian search giant set to power Android app distribution on the new OS.

The deal between the two firms will see the Yandex.Store for Android pre-installed on forthcoming Jolla handsets, which will run the Finnish firm's new Linux-based operating system, Sailfish OS.

Sailing ahead

"Jolla's strategy is always to work with the most applicable service partners in specific markets and create long-term strategic partnerships," said Jolla co-founder Sami Pienimaki.

"We analysed a number of alternative Android app stores to use for our first markets in Europe, and quickly found out that what Yandex offered was very competitive and that they were very interested in developing their app store together with us for their future needs and for the needs of Sailfish customers."

Jolla's strategy to tempt owners of rival platforms by making the OS compatible with Android apps has long been in the public domain, though the platform itself was initially spun out of Nokia and Intel's abandoned MeeGo OS.

Back in September, Jolla claimed Sailfish was now 'completely compatible' with Android, with users able to "seamlessly download Android apps just as they would do on any Android device."

One for all

For Yandex, whose Android store boasts 85,000 apps across 17 different categories, the deal cements a natural relationship between the two companies.

"Jolla and Yandex.Store were made for each other," the Russian giant said in a statement.

"We both like dialogue. We both like to talk to the developer community and to our users, and we both want to hear them. We both support community-based initiatives promoting choice and fair market.

"Jolla and Yandex.Store were united by one purpose – make the life of every Android app developer easier. Yandex.Store, created and supported by app developers, understands better than anyone else what app developers want. And what they want is a quick and easy way to distribute their apps to a maximum number of stores."

[source: Yandex]