A social networking site for IT experts in Russia

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Russia has launched a special social networking site to encourage interaction among Information Technology (IT) professionals.

The project is part of the Russian government's efforts to create an electronic public service system, intended to help fight corruption and red tape.

The regionalochka.ru website, designed for "employees of Russia's regional administrations, charged with IT development, administrative reform and transition to providing state and municipal services online", is currently operating in a test mode.

The networking site is hosted by Rostelecom, a subsidiary of Russia's state-run telecom giant Svyazinvest.

Professionals can register with the website by filling a registration form, in which the user must submit his or her name, e-mail address and other personal information such as the state body with which a person is employed, the department and designation.

The CNews web portal said Monday, citing Russia's communications ministry, that every registration bid will be checked and authorised by regional IT specialists.

The ministry said that such stringent registration procedure was due to the purely professional nature of the web portal.

Rostelecom is also involved in another government initiative to create a state e-mail service allowing citizens to communicate with officials.

The service, expected to be launched by the end of 2010, will provide Russians with the opportunity to apply for various documents and receive them by e-mail, without having to stand in queues.

©IANS