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Nokia rinGo

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Nokia rinGo
The original rinGo
ManufacturerNokia
First released1995
Compatible networksTACS, ETACS, NMT-900
Form factorCandybar
Colorgrey/green
Dimensions152 x 55 x 33mm, vol 160cc
Weight235.00g (8.29 oz)
Memory60-contact phone book
Battery900 mAh, NiMH
Displaymonochrome LCD

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

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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 GSM Nokia 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]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "1997 - Nokia rinGo 2".
  2. ^ a b c d "History of Nokia Ringo". Mobilephonehistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  3. ^ "Nokia Ringo er best i test". 20 September 1997.
  4. ^ "Nokia Annual Report 1995" (PDF). lib.aalto.fi. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Nokia Ringo3". 7 November 1998.
  6. ^ "Features of Ringo". Imei.info. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  7. ^ a b "Muistatko tämän Nokia-mallin? Helppous leimasi bimbojen puhelimeksi". 13 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Nokia rinGo".
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