International Cellphone - no contract

Would you consider buying a basic GSM phone when you arrive in Turkey, along with a local sim card? A basic Nokia cost $20 - $30. You can then buy pre-pay time. Local calls will be extremely inexpensive and calls back to the US, very reasonable. There are often several companies that provide cell service, so I ask at the hotel which provider might be best.

I bought GSM phone (a basic Nokia ) in India in 2007 that uses a  900/1800 frequency.  (These are the same frequencies used in Turkey; and the UAE uses 900)

I have another GSM phone (same basic Nokia model ) bought in Guatemala in 2006 that uses a 850/1900 frequency.  

I have used one of these two phones  in various countries (Panama, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Vietnam), just buying a local sim and pre-pay time.     If I am going to spend more than about 10 days in a country, I buy the sim.  This has worked very well for me as you don’t have to sign a contract or give a credit card number.  I will use one or the other of these phones later this year on trips to Colombia, Hungary/Romania and  Chile/Argentina.  

You can check worldwide frequencies at:

http://allworldcellphones.com/gsm-frequencies-list.htm

We got a basic Nokia phone thru Mobal several years ago. Although we've been pleased with the service, we've found that rates have gone up since we originally signed up. This is due in part to the increase in the value of the British pound in relation to the dollar I expect. Service is quite good and we've only occasionally run into problems getting a connection.

We also have a second travel phone service through Telestial. They sell prepaid phone cards and you can set up an account that automatically adds additional credit to the card as you go. Their rates are better than Mobal's but you are prepaying in amounts of, I think, $25 or more each time. To use their prepaid card, we bought our own GSM phone online for about $50 if I remember correctly.

If you do buy your own GSM phone, you have to be sure to get an unlocked phone so you can insert whatever sim card you buy. Unlocked phones tend to be a bit more expensive.

I agree, you might do better buying your phone and sim card after you arrive at your destination. I too bought a lower end phone in India several years ago and have been using it everywhere but home (US) ever since with purchase of inexpensive local sim cards. I've now used it in Malaysia, Indonesia, Italy, France and the UK with no problems. There are lots of choices overseas as contracts for use, I believe, are rare outside the US and shops to get your phone & sim will be everywhere.

Several years ago we bought an unlocked quad cell phone, a basic Motorola model for about $50 - check online for prices. Quad phones work on the 4 major frequencies used around the world. You then have the option of buying a SIM card in the country you are visiting, often at a very reasonable cost or purchasing/renting a SIM card before you leave. Check www.rebelfone.com for some options. We have used Rebelfone several times with very good results.
Canada is a different kettle of fish altogether, and to get good rates we use our unlocked phone with a SIM card from PetroCanada. $10 for the card plus a variety of very reasonable prepaid time options. They will not send cards out of Canada so visit their website and decide what you want then have a Canadian friend pick up the SIM card and some prepaid time at a local PC gas station. You can sign up online to activate the phone before you leave home and you get a Canadian cell phone number which is activated once you get to Canada and actually make a call with the card. You can purchase extra time as you go. The folks at PetroCanada are extremely helpful on the phone.