Phones Will Serve as Istanbulkart in Istanbul! A new system is being rolled out for residents of Istanbul. Thanks to an application developed by BELBİM A.Ş., a subsidiary of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Istanbul residents will soon be able to use their smartphones as Istanbulkart. Under the upcoming implementation, passengers will board public transport by scanning a QR code displayed on their mobile devices.
According to statements from BELBİM A.Ş. General Manager Yücel Karadeniz, the new service is scheduled to launch in March. Karadeniz explained that the system follows a simple “download, load, scan, go” method: users download the app, load credit, scan the QR code on their device and pass through turnstiles or readers to access transportation services.
When Will the First Implementation Start in Istanbul?
When will the first implementation start in Istanbul? General Manager Yücel Karadeniz provided further details about the Istanbulkart expansion. He said the goal is to transform Istanbulkart from a dedicated transit card into a multifunctional tool that allows easy access to a range of city services.
Karadeniz also noted that the initiative will extend beyond transportation—museum admissions and various municipal payments are being evaluated to work with the Istanbulkart framework. He emphasized that many municipal services will soon accept payments via Istanbulkart. In addition, technological improvements for transportation continue, and a pilot program is planned to begin in March. If successful, the pilot is expected to expand across numerous public transport services.
Karadeniz stated that the system will first be introduced on the metrobüs. Using the “download, load, scan, go” method, mobile applications equipped with QR code functionality will allow Istanbul residents to use their phones for transit. After the pilot phase, usage is planned to expand to metro, ferry and Marmaray services. The primary objective of the project is to eliminate the need for carrying separate plastic cards so that citizens can reach their destinations using only a smartphone.