Turkish discount store chain offers mobile services

ISTANBUL

BİM, with over 3,300 stores in Turkey, starts its own mobile phone services. Radikal photo

One of Turkey’s leading discount market chains, BİM, has started offering “BİMcell,” its own mobile virtual operator, the internet site of daily Milliyet reported yesterday.

BİM will utilize the telecommunication infrastructure of Avea, one of the leading mobile phone operators active in Turkey, but the discount market chain plans to move on to setting up its own cellular network in the future, according to the report.

BİMcell will charge one kuruş for 6 seconds of call time, according to its website. BİM operates more than 3,300 stores, selling staple food and basic consumption goods across the country, an advantage that should support BİMcell to become widespread.