Instead of going through all the BS of registering my USA iPhone, I purchased a used cell phone on Isktiklal Street. I did all the right things:, supplied passport, paid for beat up Blackberry, paid the 50 TYL tax, etc. The English speaking clerk did the entire procedure correctly, inserted SIM, took a sticker from the SIM and attached to photocopy of passport, sent the papers over to Turkcell. The clerk said the phone would be activated within 3 hours: a message would come up asking for my 4 digit pin, which I would type in, and BINGO.

Now it's Sunday evening and my phone keeps still reads INSERT SIM CARD, like there is no Sim in there, but there is. Otherwise the phone works fine.

Please advise, I need to get a working phone by 5 pm tomorrow night!