Turkcell is offering its subscribers a chance to buy a ticket to a top-level football game via SMS and then show the newly-purchased ticket on their phone screen at the turnstiles to enter the stadium.

The operator chose the Turkish national team’s 500th game to launch the service, a match against Denmark on November 14.

Although this is only an initial step, Turkcell has high ambitions for its smart-ticket service which it says could be applied to other locations such as cinemas, concerts and public transportation, in addition to football stadia.

Those fans wishing to purchase tickets for the Denmark game send a text to a shortcode. The cost of the ticket is added to their phone bill. When entering the stadium, fans show the mobile ticket at specially designated turnstiles although it is unclear whether this is an automated process or whether the tickets are checked manually.  

Turkcell has signed an agreement with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to enable the service to go ahead. The operator is offering 7,000 mobile tickets for the Denmark game.