Survival Guide - Discover Turkey: Experience the Best of Turkey - page 755

Telephone
Türk Telekom ( www.turktelekom.com.tr ) has a monopoly on phone services, and service is ef-
ficient if costly. Within Turkey, numbers starting with 444 don't require area codes and,
wherever you call from, are charged at the local rate.
KONTÖRLÜ TELEFON
If you only want to make one quick call, it's easiest to look for a booth with a sign saying
kontörlü telefon (metered telephone). You make your call and the owner reads the meter
and charges you accordingly. In touristy areas you can get rates as low as " 0.50 per minute
to Europe and beyond.
MOBILE PHONES
» Reception is excellent across most of Turkey.
» Mobile phone numbers start with a four-figure number beginning with 05.
» Major networks are Turkcell ( www.turkcell.com.tr ) , the most comprehensive, Vodafone
( www.vodafone.com.tr ) and Avea ( www.avea.com.tr ) .
PAYPHONES & PHONECARDS
» Türk Telekom payphones can be found in most major public buildings and facilities, pub-
lic squares and transport terminals.
» International calls can be made from payphones.
» All payphones require cards that can be bought at telephone centres or, for a small mark-
up, at some shops. Some payphones accept credit cards.
» The telephone cards come in units of 50 ( " 3.75), 100 ( " 7.50), 200 ( " 15) and 350 ( " 19).
» Fifty units are sufficient for local calls and short intercity calls; 100 units are suitable for
intercity or short international conversations.
INTERNATIONAL PHONECARDS
» Cards can be used on landlines, payphones and mobiles.
» Stick to reputable phonecards such as IPC.
» With a " 20 IPC card you can speak for about 200 minutes to Europe and beyond.