Turkey SIM/Data plan Questions

[eonibm]

The Turkey threads are more than 6 months old so maybe things have changed. I I am going to be using my iPhone 4S there and have a few questions:

1. Apparently phones do not become inactive until after a week if you don't register your IMEI when you get your SIM card. But I thought you could not buy a prepaid SIM card unless you register your IMEI. Which is the case? Do you have the option of getting the SIM card without registration or not?

2. I hear conflicting reports on whether registering the IMEI is free or not. If it's free one might as well do it, right?

3. Turkcell and others have booths in the arrival area of Istanbul's Ataturk airport. But I hear conflicting stories about whether you can register your IMEI at the booth when you buy your SIM card. Can you?

4. Reports on here talk about how foreign credit cards are not accepted to purchase a SIM card or a prepaid plan. Are they or do you have to use cash?

5. Reports on here talk about texting the carrier to buy more data, etc. But, how do you do this if your credit card has not been accepted. Do you not just buy what you need at the time you get your SIM card and if you need more data, etc then just go into a store and pay for it then and there? Or do you fill up your account with money when you buy the SIM card and then text to buy various plans as you need them?

6. I am mainly interested in the 1GB data plan but I see a price of 16TL good for one week on here, but then on Turkcell's website (loosely translated) I see a price of 1GB data good for 30 days for 29TL. Which is it?

7. Are microSIMS available (ie the ones used in the iPhone 4S) or do you have to buy a full size one and cut it down with a microSIM cutter?

Hopefully someone can answer all these questions. What a confusing country to find out about using your cell phone in!

[DaveRo]

Originally Posted by eonibm

1. Apparently phones do not become inactive until after a week if you don't register your IMEI ...

That wasn't true when I bought a Turkcell SIM: it started off blocked and only became unblocked the next day as I described here

2. I hear conflicting reports on whether registering the IMEI is free or not.

I don't remember whether registration was free. But the SIM and registration cost 43TL (inclusive of 20TL credit) so you might be able to work it out.

5. Reports on here talk about texting the carrier to buy more data, etc. But, how do you do this if your credit card has not been accepted.

You have to have credit on the card, then the cost of the data is deducted from that. I bought top-ups for cash in shops.

I can't answer your other questions.

[kuba.g]

Originally Posted by eonibm

4. Reports on here talk about how foreign credit cards are not accepted to purchase a SIM card or a prepaid plan. Are they or do you have to use cash?

The store I visited accepted European credit cards. As long as you see the card logo on the door you can be sure that they'll accept it.

Originally Posted by eonibm

6. I am mainly interested in the 1GB data plan but I see a price of 16TL good for one week on here, but then on Turkcell's website (loosely translated) I see a price of 1GB data good for 30 days for 29TL. Which is it?

Count on 29 TYL. This kind of data gets outdated rather quickly. Turkey unfortunately isn't the cheapest country for mobile prepaid internet...