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While this is still officially in the rumor stage, it looks like the iPhone 3G may very well be headed to Russia before the end of 2008. The Moscow Times has stated that according to a statement during a recent CNBC interview Steve Jobs was quoted as saying;

“We just didn’t have a chance to close [a deal] with Russia. And I think you’ll see [agreements] happen later this year,”

Which sounds a lot like, he wants it to happen, but there has been no official carrier chosen, however there have already been talks with both Mobile TeleSystems and MegaFon. Currently a third carrier, VimpelCom is looking to begin talks with Apple in hopes of securing a deal.

Estimates say that there are about 300,000 first gen iPhone’s currently in use within Russia, despite not being able to purchase one from a store. Eldar Murtazin, editor of Moscow-based Mobile Research Group believes that “about 20,000 iPhone handsets are brought into the country in suitcases every month,” Those phones are also reported to be selling in the range of $1,000.

If an estimated 300,000 people are willing to import and pay $1,000 for a first gen iPhone, can you imagine what the sales would be like if the iPhone were cheaper and easier to get.

[iLounge]