Mobile Phone - Turkey

NotRichAtAll

In about 3 months time my son and his girlfriend are going to turkey for 2 weeks. My son wants to take his phone, specifically for the camera on it. what would anyone suggest would be a fail safe way to avoid any ridiculous bills?
my suggestion to him is to buy a cheap pay as you go sim for the 2 weeks, but i am not sure if any old sim will work in Turkey?

and ideas appreciated

[Deleted User]

What network is he on? Some networks let you take your 'minutes with you'

Alli135

Turn off his Data Roaming!! Also if the mobile is Virgin Media and you have Virgin Media at home you can download 'Smartcall' it lets you use your home tariff abroad - if you are on Wifi.

I'm afraid I don't know about other service providers as I have been with Virgin for years.

ttoli

Make sure that his phone is unlocked and purchase a local sim card
under £10 ( 36 TL )

http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Turkey

Alli135

That is what I was going to do - but I have been told by people I know who live in Turkey that to put a Turkish sim in a UK purchased phone you need to register the phone. Apparently this can cost a lot more that buying a cheap phone and PAYG Turkish Sim.

You can take a unlocked MiFi unit with you without having to register it.

ttoli

Hmmmmn not heard of that , I live in Northern Cyprus ( Turkish republic)
and always buy my phones online from the UK and simply put my Turkcell sim in .

[Deleted User]

Alli135 wrote: »

Turn off his Data Roaming!! Also if the mobile is Virgin Media and you have Virgin Media at home you can download 'Smartcall' it lets you use your home tariff abroad - if you are on Wifi.

I'm afraid I don't know about other service providers as I have been with Virgin for years.

If you are with O2, they have a product called TuGo which is the same as Virgin (it works a lot better actually)

Alli135

This was someone who lives in mainland Turkey - a couple of other people who have holiday homes there have also told me the same - but they could all be wrong. Don't think I will take the chance - but that's me a bit of a wimp when someone tells me something lol!!

balletshoes

we just take our normal smartphones with their normal sims in, and switch data roaming off (i automatically switch off data roaming as soon as i buy a new smartphone as you don't need it on in the uk anyway).

this way you can still connect to local Turkish wifi, and you can still use your phone for its camera. Avoid using it for calls and texts unless absolutely necessary, and check your mobile network provider for international charges for calls/texts before you go, so that if you do call/text while abroad, you have an idea of what you will be charged.

NotRichAtAll

my son is with o2 and yes i have also read today that you need to register your phone if you buy a sim in turkey
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/details/Communications/sim_cards.html

balletshoes

NotRichAtAll wrote: »

my son is with o2 and yes i have also read today that you need to register your phone if you buy a sim in turkey
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/details/Communications/sim_cards.html

uk payg sims will work fine in Turkey, I have Orange and O2 payg sims which I've used in Turkey.