The Nokia rinGo (named after "Ring and Go") is an entry-level analogue consumer mobile phone from Nokia,[1] originally released for the analogue NMT-900 network in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Netherlands. It was also sold in Thailand under the name Wave900. Three revisions were released afterwards.
History
The first rinGo (code NHN-2)[2] phone was launched for
NMT-900 in November 1995. It had a very simple design and came in light blue, yellow and red with a small monochromatic LCD screen. The Nokia rinGo was designed to be easy to use straight out of the box and was cheap to buy,[3] due to special mobile carrier tariffs.[4] An ETACS version of the rinGo with minor design changes (NHX-2NE) was launched in 1997 for the Austrian market by Mobilkom Austria.[2]
In press releases it was also called a 'concept', a way of easily buying and using a mobile phone without operator registration. Nokia unusually created a unique "rinGo" brand and logo for it.
Nokia rinGo 2
In September 1997 a new rinGo model (NHX-4N) was introduced for ETACS, which was the UK's first pay as you go Nokia handset through Vodafone's pay as you talk package. The phone had a big oval shaped button for accepting and rejecting calls, and was thinner and available in a variety of colours.[2] Later in October 1998 a third (NHX-7) model was released for ETACS in Italy and Spain (both versions 4N and 7 via operator Moviline). It featured the "Navi-key" like on the GSMNokia 3110 and Nokia 5110 and had its top antenna positioned in the middle.[5]
Nokia rinGo 3
The phones have the capacity to store about 60 contacts.[6] Calculator, Watch and Calendar were pre installed on the handset.
Nokia marketed original rinGo targeting women and children. However it gained a negative reputation and in Sweden earned the nickname "bimbo phone", leading to low sales.[2][7] Interest and popularity of the rinGo quickly faded and it has been largely forgotten since.[8][7]
