Nokia rinGo

The UK's first PAYG Nokia

Date launched:1996(original version),1997 (revised version available in the UK)
Network:NMT,ETACS
Form:Candy bar
Size:55(w)x152(h)x33(d) mm
Weight:235g
Cost new:£99 with Vodafone Pay as You Talk
Can you use it today:No

The Nokia rinGo concept began with a cheap, basic phone for the NMT network in Norway, Sweden,Denmark and the Netherlands. Vodafone brought it to Britain the following year when they offereda Nokia rinGo as one option in their new Pay As You Talk package, one of the first contractfree talk plans in the UK. The rinGo became Britain's first PAYG Nokia handset.

The rinGo was an earnest attempt by Nokia to make a phone that was very easy to use. However,they went too far in their quest for simplicity. The rinGo became known as the Bimbo phone andwomen consumers in Sweden, in particular, reacted badly to it.

Nokia's media spokesman, Lars Bjarnemark, was keen to point out that it should not be seen as a bimbo phone, although he explained that Nokia was targeting less technical users, who were women and pensioners.^[1]

The original rinGo was certainly simple to use, or you could say devoid of features. It camein a grey/green colour and was pre-programmed to be ready to use out of the box. In Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands the rinGo was sold with air-time included in the package.Nokia also sold the phone in Thailand where it was marketed as the Wave900.

An improved version came along in 1997, which combined the accept and reject call buttonsin one big oval shaped button. The new rinGo came with an integrated battery, an improvedsleeker design and in a large range of colours.

It was an ETACS version of this phone that Vodafone adopted for its new PAYG service in 1997. Although the UK version seems to have been only available in charcoal grey. The NokiarinGo has the distinction of being the first Nokia handset available on Pay As You Go in the UK.

The rinGo went through a further revision in 1998. This time it acquired the Navikey used on the Nokia 5110 and became substantially smaller and lighter than the previous rinGo.However, this model was only available in Italy.

Memories of the Nokia rinGo quickly faded as newer and lighter models soon replaced it.

Collectors' information

The Nokia rinGo is quite a rare phone.

References

1. The Nokia Revolution by Dan Stainbock, 2001 Amacon p284

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Comments (6)

Gareth

Does anyone know if you can make the ringtone ring on these? I still have mine but as they used an analogue network with embedded SIM (lol), it's long dead.I can't find any menus, except last dialled numbers. Trying to see if I can get the ringtone on :)

12th March 2021 12:00am

Georgia

How do you turn on the Nokia ringo phones

5th April 2020 12:00am

David

I have 2 x Nokia Ringo as per picture above. Both with chargers, both switching on and charging. Any enthusiasts want to buy them. I had both from new bought from Tandy (went bust shortly after) Circa 1997/98

21st July 2015 12:00am

Albert Marc Justine Carreon

Nokia rinGoDiscounted August 29, 2010

4th December 2012 12:00am

Steven

Hi,These are quite rare in the UK. They come up on eBay from time to time, so it's hard to be very precise on value. I would say around £20.best regards

9th May 2012 12:00am

Sean darke

I have a black ringo I think I also have box stand and chargerI was wondering if you could tell me it's value if any ? Thanks .

6th May 2012 12:00am