Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Information and Services in Turkey Section => Telephones, Broadband and Mobiles => Topic started by: booo on June 24, 2006, 07:57:19 AM
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I get the dreaded text message yesterday about the government locking my phone. They are working fast.
Was told the government are systematically locking the english phones that have the turkish sim cards by tracing the registration number inside the phone. Apparently the reason for this is because a lot of English people are getting their phones stolen so they are trying to clamp down on it, in the future will just be able to use phones bought in Turkey.
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I don't think they've invested in the system because a few hundred Brits have had their phones stolen.
The main reason for them blocking "foreign" phones is to protect their own economy. In the past there have been thousands of phones "imported" from Europe and Russia which have caused a huge loss of revenue in the Turkish mobile phone businesses and therefore loss of KDV to the treasury.
When we moved over here we gave away several old English mobile phones to Turkish friends and I know other ex-pats have done the same in the past.
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It is terrible really cos the price of phones compared to what people earn means that people cant afford them. I know I will be without mobile now.
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yup that happened to me recently but not sure of the reason why. Had to buy a new mobile.
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How much is a mobile in Turkey? are they expensive? what's the cheapest one cost?
Thanks - Jacqui.
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I have a scottish mobile - no problem - still in use
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just seems to have been this past few days that it has started, there must be someway around it.
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Left ours in Calis with brother in law- they got the dreaded text about 2 days ago- now locked!
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you can pick one up for about 100 tl about £40
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As far as I am concerned I hope they lock the british phones soon so that the btd that stole mine cant use it.
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We went through all this at the end of last year when we all had to register our phones. We were getting text messages from Turkcell which apparently were saying that our phones would automaticaly be registered unless we answered the text to say dont do it. Does anyone know if they actually did, I never got around to checking.
I assumed that was the end of it, there was an article in the Land of Lights last year which gave details of the website you could visit to check if your phone is registered I keep it for a long time then threw it away recently because I thought the panic was over. Does antone have the web site address and instructions?
If this dreaded message arrives, who is it from and roughly what does it say, as I tend to delete all text messages I receive in Turkish.
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Maybe some of our Turkish speaking members could obtain the reasons and what we have to do by visiting www.turkcell.com all of our families phones were registered but some have been cut off and some not.
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Apart from the last post which still leaves you uncertain.....no one has said if their phone was registered or not, which is obviously very relevant. We were told to register them last year and what would happen if they were not. So if you didn't and it has been locked it would seem that is down to you. :)
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I had to get a new sim card last month for the phone. Asked about registering the phone & chap just shrugged his shoulders. Is mine likely to be turned off too? Paid just 20YTL for sim + 100 units but should I have paid more to register it also. Can you still register the phone now?
Linda
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Lindacarl,
like you I had to buy a new sim card, paid the same amount and also asked about registering the phone and was told no need!
We are not back again until later in the year so will see if the phone still works! If not, I will try another sim or buy a phone over there. i have looked on the Turkcell web site but I can't see anything on there about registering your phone. Maybe I am not looking hard enough!!!!
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Maybe I am cynical but just maybe the shop would rather you had a new Turkish phone than for him to register yours.[?]:-\
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You cynical Brian? Never!!
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Thank you number one fan!.....I have just emailed The Fethiye Times who were very informative on this previously to see if they can throw any light on the matter. As a matter of interest my phone was registered and it seems is still working. :)
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How do you register a phone? I promised an old handset to someone when I'm next over so I should really get it sorted out, just to be on the safe side. It would be awful to give it and find they can't use it.
B
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I just bought a sim card at the Avea shop in Fethiye. They registred it for me and it worked as soon as I got back to the villa and popped it in the phone. You need your passport with you when you purchase it but if you forgret it they will find a way around it for you - or at least they did for me.
Stoop
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So it's as easy as taking the old handset to the shop, with my passport, and getting them to do it for you there? Excellent.
Thanks!
B
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Yep - you got it. I assume that there is a form to complete as the shop owner waived it under my nose and asked for my passport. When I said I didn't have it he just smiled and said 'no problem'. I got the impression he was going to register it in his name. Anyway it worked and we will be back before the 3 month limit to top it up. It was an avea sim and cost the mighty sum of 15ytl for 100 contours (credits)
A text message to the UK cost 2 contours and we found it much cheaper ringing for taxis than it was with the UK sim.
Stoop
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On the turkcell.com web site there is a section for contacting them but my Turkish is not sufficient to ask technicl questions.
Perhaps if one of our Turkish members could contact them through the turkcell web site website and relay the answers on here.
As mentioned in an earlier post, some of our phones have been cut off and some not although they were all registered
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When you say the phone has been blocked do you mean the phone or the sim card? If you put a UK sim back in it is it useable or not?
As I said - my phone worked fine with the new sim card in it. The shop keeper did not take any details from me as I did not have my passport.
Interesting.
Stoop
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Have a look at the Avea web site - it explains the registration of mobiles quite well:
http://www.avea.com.tr/en/sta/bireysel/yasal_uyari.shtml?pagemenu=yasaluyari
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Thanks, Stoop. You've been a big help - I'll happily head off to Avea in August but will take my passport with me.
B
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I think I've found a website where you can register online. Try http://imei.tk.gov.tr/ but please can someone tell me what:
Karakterler
means first?
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It means you have to write what is shown in the box to the right to prevent automated services doing it.
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and now, wheres my IMEI No? Please.
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It's OK. I found it and registered and the site (I think) says that it's now registered!
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sorry can't remember cos my boyfriend did it for me, something to do with pressing the hash key and something else, but all it said was phone not recognised when we did it.
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I've registered 3 unused phones now so there won't be any shortage of phones for us when we arrive. Hopefully the one I left in our apartment will still be working.
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just gone on the site mentioned and put in my serial number then got this message, can anyone help with translation?
message:
"KAYIT BULUNAMADI
Cep telefonunuzla ilgili hiç bir kayit bulunamadi.
Bu sorgulama bilgilendirme amaçli olup kesinleşmiş kayit anlamina gelmemektedir."
Many thanks
mibur
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You may access the serial number (IMEI) by dialing *#06# on your mobile device, and inquire free of charge if this number is registered or not from the internet address http://imei.tk.gov.tr.
The website mentioned is just to check if your phone is registered or not. I do not think you can register it on there. if it comes up as registered then you should be OK. Mine isn't but still worked last week.
Stoop
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Mibur
I got the same message as you and I thought my phone was registered.
However I put another emei number in for an unregistered phone and again got the same message. So it would appear we are not registered.
Looked on an online turkish translator and Kayit means register, but couldn't find bulunamadi
Hope this helps Fran :)
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Trust me - no problems at all - maybe forget the english phone ??
quote:
Originally posted by braveheart
I have a scottish mobile - no problem - still in use
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Kayit Bulunamadi.........As you say Kayit is registered and Bulunamak is the verb to find. I think with my limited grammar bulunamadi is the past negative tense. Which of course means Registration not Found. Maybe someone with better Turkish can confirm or otherwise. :)
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Have had a quick response on this from The Fethiye Times who have just about given up on getting any sense out of TTelekom. So it looks at the moment as if it is wait and see what happens.
FT did mention that the Migros website had the offer of a Nokia phone plus a free electric coffee machine at under £40!.
At the end of the day we could all end up with a Turkish Mobile:-\
Have also come across a couple of people who had been advised their phones were registered but the website is now saying they are not registered! :)
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I bought a secondhand phone in Fethiye (yes I know a mistake). The phone and sim card were registered with Turkcell. However this phone isn't working now. If I bring a new Nokia from England. Will the registered sim work? Sorry in advance if this is a dumb question. Anne x
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The topic is so confusing no question is a dumb one! In theory if you bring a new phone from the uk providing you have the invoice you should then be able to register it. It is the phones IMEI number that is registerd although it is your simcard provider who makes the registration. I would wait a little while and see what happens with this can of worms. :)
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Can anybody enlighten me to where the Avea shop is in Fethiye
Cheers
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i bought one last week for 60ytl what a bargain
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Puma where did you but it from
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Jim,
Off the top of my head I think it was virtually opposite the mosque near the dolmus station. It was certainly on the main road on the opposite side to the mosque (same side and same road as Gima)
Hope you find it.
Stoop
ps - if you get time whilst in Calis I would go onto the avea web site (it has an english option) and register with them on line. Then you will be able to top up your sim from the UK. The reason you need to do it in Turkey is because you need a text from them which gives you an access number.
Let me know if it works.
Stoop
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This is the address locator from their web site. Scroll down to Mugla and then in the second box, Fethiye.
http://www.avea.com.tr/mps/portal?cmd=dealer&lang=en
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Cheers Stuart
Will be over 10/07/06, know exactly the area it is in, will have a look see, going to need a mobile, if it locks it locks.
Cheers
Jim
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Ok sorry more confused now than ever. Our sim is Avea, we purchased in Oct last year and as far as we know its not been registered. We were out early June and it worked fine all week, worried again now that it may not work when we come back out next month. Do you mean we can go on the web in Turkey to the Avea site and register there or do we have to go to the phone shop?? if we go to the phone shop will we still need a receipt with the imei number showing(not got as old contract phone) or will we just need a passport?? If the phone does not work and we buy a Turkish phone will the sim work in that or do we have to start all over again. Sorry for sounding dumb and i know no one is really sure but this justs gets more and more confusing.:D
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You can get the IMEI by typing *#06# into your phone.
That is about all I know about it though,
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If it worked last time you went I would just leave it as it is. If not you might need to reconsider your options.
Stoop
ps my hones all have the imei number written under the battery on the body of the phone:D
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The main Avea shop is just a few doors up from Deniz Bank, opposite the polis station
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My phone worked fine this time, and as I had to buy a new sim that worked perfectly fine too.
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I changed my sim to a different English phone as other one locked, seems ok for now.
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My phone was locked today and so was a turkish friends phone, looks like they are being busy today : :)
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My wifes went this morning, guess it won't be long before mine goes too!
Does anyone know if there is a proceedure to get the phone registered or is the only option a turkish mobile?
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I suppose one could by a new SIM but it might be only a matter of time before they find you and lock it AGAIN!! lol
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Linda,
I think it's the actual phones that are getting locked -not the sims - so a new sim would not work in a locked phone.
Stoop
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Aaaargh... they locked my other phone now.
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I posted this link before but it was thought to be expensive.....however if phones are continued to be locked it may be an option.........
http://www.oneroam.co.uk/sim-cards.aspx?m=1&mi=1&ms=0
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So much for registering your phone! had one of our phones registered and now it is locked, wont even turn on! what a bloody money spinning excercise that was, and whos brother made a few bucks out of that I wonder.
Yes I am furious. the only winners here are the gov and phone shops as we have had to purchase yet another phone. And to make matters worse inadvertently saved the numbers to the phone and not the sim card!! grrrrrrrr............
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Chris - oneroam looks a VERY viable option to me under the current circumstances. 24p per text and 27p per minute calls (41p to mobiles) is not bad compared to having your phone locked. I think I might get one before we go back in Sept.
I wonder - is there not someone in Calis or fethiye tha can unlock the phones? I know they are likely to be locked again if you put in a Turkish sim but at least they could be used again with some other sim inserted (such as oneroam)
Stoop
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Stoop, we are working on that as I type. A mobile is on it's way to an expert to see if it can be unlocked. I'll let you know as soon as we have the test results:D
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Russ,
Good man. Hopefully some dodgy dealer can work his way around this problem. There is always a way ;)
Stoop
ps - I would't post the answer on the forum though - you don't know who is reading this:(
Stoop
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Here's an interesting alternative to Oneroam - and it's pay as you go - so no nasty bills if you talk too long:
http://www.tgtmobileplus.com/index.php?pageID=1
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There is a program that you can use to change the IMEI number on your phone, but it is illegal to do so.
Crabbit
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An interesting article on changing imei numbers - notice the bit about being punishable by 5 years in jail!
http://www.unlockme.co.uk/blacklist.html
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Remote unlocking is quite popular now as well. Not sure how good it is though. has anyone used this company?
http://www.easymobileunlock.co.uk/
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Why pay £1.50 a minute, i can unlock your phone free of charge.
Crsbbit
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Crsbbit?
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nsthing
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In disguise. :D
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dycedon it was a phone shop top road in fethiye
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Will unlocking the phone be of much use in the long run? Since they go by the IMEI of the phone, then it will be only a matter of time before it's locked again. My wife's phone was unlocked a couple of weeks ago and was locked again a few days ago! Since there seems (at the moment) total confusion about registering non Turkish phones I think I will be biting the bullet and shopping for a Turkish mobile before my phone goes the same way:(
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I have about 150 kontoyrs left on my Turcell sim. If I don't use it when I first get there but buy a new phone in Fethiye and then put the simcard in that phone. Will my simcard work without losing the Kontours or do I have to buy a new sim with the phone? Still confused Anne
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quote:
Originally posted by mercury
I have about 150 kontoyrs left on my Turcell sim. If I don't use it when I first get there but buy a new phone in Fethiye and then put the simcard in that phone. Will my simcard work without losing the Kontours or do I have to buy a new sim with the phone? Still confused Anne
Should work fine, you may have to top your kontors up to activate your existing 150, if it's been more than 3 months.
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Help, Coming out to Calis this saturday for two weeks, I have a mobile to keep in touch with the family back home and have used it for the last 4 years, does the forgoing mean that I stand a good chance of getting my phone locked while I am in Turkey this year.
Glen.
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Glen - only if you put a Turkish sim in it ( I think). Can anyone confirm that for me please?
Stoop
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Correct Stoop ......but if you put a Turkish simcard in you may well get away with it for a couple of weeks. ;)
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I recieved the message from Aria.was told if I had the receipt for the phone to go either to harbour polis or airport to get it registered..Did so and no one knows anything about it.nothing whatsoever to do with the sim cards.my blocked phone still works with my english sim.Has anyone heard about Turkcell...all my friends phones been blocked but they are all on Aria.Have put the sim card in another phone and it works fine.....but for how long? So off to Metro to buy a new phone.
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My sisters Turkcell sim locked as did my Telsim card. I put my sim card in another phone, lasted 4 days then locked without warning.
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Following the latest post on Fethiye Times re UK Mobile Phones http://www.fethiyetimes.org.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=495&Itemid=58
Apart from the fact that you have to pay £40+, are there any advantages, disadvantages or other considerations? Do the Turkish phones have UK language etc What are the features like in comparison to the typical UK phones?
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When I was over last time I took my phone to Customs in Fethiye (at the end of the harbour furthest from Calis). They can fill out the forms there for you. You need the receipt and your passport to prove your ownership and the authenticity of the phone. You then take the paperwork to the phone shop in Fethiye who will try to set everything up on the computer but you will likely (in our case) have to send the papers off to Antalya (I think it was) for them to process. It takes ages. It's still not cleared now and we set this in motion on 13 July. I did ask at Customs at the airport and they knew nothing, as has been said before. I think it's a case of things moving at the usual Turkish speed. It'll get done, I'm sure - though trying to do this without a Turkish friend would have been pretty much impossible as they didn't speak English at the customs office. Though they were very friendly.
There seem to be several differing experiences of getting the phones registered. I don't know which is right or if there are several ways to do it. In which case, I don't know which is the quickest.
B
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You can set almost any language you want through the settings / profile of the phone. You can buy all of the popular makes.
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When you buy a phone in Fethiye just ask the assistant to set your phone to English. They will do everything for you. I bought a Motorola c19. Quite basic but does everything it needs to. Cost 109 TL with 100 free Kontours. Worked out at about £35 in June. Turcell shop on the main road. Anne x
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hi all, just wondering through all the confusion, if i go and but a phone over there with a sim card, how will i go about registering it and if i dont go over for another 12months, will it still work. dont wanna pay 100tl+ everytime i go just so i have contact out there. dont want to risk my other sim being blocked, being alone at night etc i like to have some form of contact as do my family. please help me.. im confused!!! billeigh-jo xx
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When you buy a phone in Turkey the shop will register it for you. There are forms to fill in. We didn't use our phone for about 5 months but it was working when we turned it on. If you have someone out there that you can trust then you can leave it with them and let them send one txt. msg. a month. This will keep the sim going. However we didn't bother and it still worked. Anne
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Does anyone know if the age of the phone has any relevance to how likely it is to be blocked. The one I use is about 3 or 4 years old and I seem to remember reading something about it being the brand spanking new models that are being targeted.
Cheers,
Dave Nicholson.
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any phone that isnt registered will get locked. age is irrelevant.
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Anyone know where I can by a carrier pigeon in Calis that knows it way to Salisbury Plain and surounding areas?