Yandex Becomes Default Search Engine on Windows Phone

Moscow, November 25, 2011. Yandex (NASDAQ: YNDX) has become the default search engine on Windows Phone-based handsets in Russia. The company has partnered with Nokia, Samsung, HTC and Microsoft to provide its search services on the latest Windows Phone smartphone models on the country’s mobile market.

Yandex’s search engine is now installed on Samsung Оmnia W as well as on Nokia’s Windows Phone-powered Lumia 800 and Lumia 710. The Samsung Оmnia W is already available for purchase in Russia. Nokia’s smartphones will hit the stores in December. Also, following the launch of Windows Phone-based Titan, Mozart and Radar smartphones last autumn, HTC is planning an update release with Yandex as the default search engine on its handsets.

“Windows Phone is a new operating system with great potential. It is bound to catch attention in Russia. It’s good to know that the Windows Phone users in this country will have familiar Yandex search on their new devices,” says Tigran Khudaverdyan, Head of Web Portal and Mobile Services at Yandex. “The range of apps we have already developed for this platform includes Yandex.Maps and Yandex.Market and we will continue our effort to expand this range.”

“Launching Windows Phone in Russia, our goal was to provide our customers in this country with the latest version of a mobile operating system integrated with the most popular local web services and social networks. Now we are pleased to announce that the services of our strategic partner Yandex will appear on a wide range of smartphones supporting Windows Phone,” says Anna Kulashova, Director of Mobile Carriers and Service Providers Development at Microsoft.

Yandex develops apps and services for all major mobile operating systems. In October 2011, Yandex became the main search provider on bada-powered smartphones available in Russia and the CIS.

ABOUT YANDEX

Yandex (NASDAQ: YNDX) is the leading internet company in Russia, operating the country’s most popular search engine and the most visited website. Yandex also operates in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Turkey. Yandex’s mission is to answer any question internet users may have.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These include statements regarding the development of the mobile handset and software markets in Russia and the success of Yandex mobile apps and services. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted or implied by such statements, and our reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted or implied by such statements include, among others, user preferences regarding mobile handsets and software, competitive pressures, changes in advertising patterns, changes in the legal and regulatory environment, technological developments, unforeseen changes in our hiring patterns, and our need to expend capital to accommodate the growth of the business, as well as those risks and uncertainties included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Prospectus dated May 24, 2011, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is available on our investor relations website at http://company.yandex.com/investor_relations/sec_filing.xml and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. All information provided in this release is as of the date hereof, and Yandex undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

Contact:
Media Relations
Vladimir Isaev, Ochir Mandzhikov
Phone: +7 495 739-7000
E-mail: pr@yandex-team.com