U.K. mobile phones versus Cyprus networks

woodies


Joined: 08/03/2009
Posts: 37

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 18:57

We are finally collecting the keys to our apartment in Alsancak after the usual wait and are flying out on the 6th of May. Can anyone give me information on mobile phones, can I bring one with me and get a new sim, if so where do I go and which is the best provider. Are calls to the U.K.cheaper than using my current phone or are local phones only best used for local calls.



Thanks

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 19:28

Bring your uk phone and buy a sim card here for one of the local networks. I use Turkcell.



All calls will be cheaper that way.



Try to make sre your uk mobile is unlocked before you arrive here, if you cannot do this you will be able to get it done in North CYprus

Denise


Joined: 14/03/2009
Posts: 590

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 19:48

unlocking a phone is around 40tl, if you want to make calls to a uk landline or even a mobile they will be cheaper from a landline here, there are lots of shops offering this service and in Girne there is the big orange that a lot of people use. some internet cafes and turkcell shops offer the service too. a lot of people here use skype here to communicate cheaply with overseas friends and family.

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 19:56

Turkcell rates in / from TRNC here: -

http://tinyurl.com/cx3sv9

100 kontors (units) costs 5 Turkish Lira - about £2.10, so each unit costs 0.21 pence.

As far as I remember, a UK 'phone with an 'Orange' prepaid card costs around 40 pence per minute to use in TRNC.

I might be a bit out of date, so if anyone has more recent knowledge....

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 20:00

woodies

Get a local sim card for local calls and if you intend getting an internet connection then subscribe to Skype or similar for international calls.

AJ

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 20:12

All of you, dear friends: buy some Skype credit (minimum 10 Euros) and call landlines and mobile phones in the Uk (and most countries in this world) from your computer for almost nothing.



Let me know if you don't know how to do it - I'll be pleased to tell to.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 08:32

woodies

if you have a look on amazon.co.uk . you can often buy unlocked phones cheeper than buying a phone then getting it unlocked.

so if you need to update your phone it could be a good option.

fatboy



Joined: 05/11/2008
Posts: 244

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 12:38

if you have google & the people you want communicate with also have it try google talk.Similar to skype but no picture,but it's free.

canyavuz


Joined: 22/02/2009
Posts: 363

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 14:09

Local simcard should be your best buy.

I you get a Telsim simcard from the UK, you may be able to get discounted prices when calling uk vodafone mobiles, as Vodafone had recently bought Telsim.



Calling the UK from Turkcell is suprisingly cheap, which may be why main phone landlines are not that common here!



Or you could use Skype from the internet......2p a minute to uk landlines.......skype is the best option really

woodies


Joined: 08/03/2009
Posts: 37

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 18:57

Thank you all for the info,I have an unlocked phone which I will bring out.

woodies


Joined: 08/03/2009
Posts: 37

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 19:06

Dutch Crusader . If you can give me info on Skype I would appreciate it, I am shortly buying a laptop to bring out, do I need 3g, my existing broad band or do I need to sign up in Cyprus. If I can talk to people in the U.K. at a low cost it sounds great. Google talk has been mentioned and I have never heard of this before,is this similar to skype . Thanks