[1992] Rabbit — The Portable Phone That Could Make Calls but Not Receive Them
💾 Forgotten Technology
Rabbit offered a peculiar version of portable calling. The handset could be used as a cordless phone at home, then taken out to make calls wherever a signed Rabbit public access point could be found. It was a UK public Telepoint service operated by Hutchison Personal Communications Ltd, using CT2/CAI digital cordless technology rather than a conventional cellular network. Service began in Greater Manchester on 21 May 1992. The catch was that public use was ordinarily outgoing-only: subscribers were not ordinarily reachable while away from home. Rabbit expanded nationwide in October 1992, but this limitation became harder to overlook as cellular calling grew more competitive. Hutchison Whampoa announced the closure on 5 November 1993, and the public service ended on 31 December. The Science Museum Group holds a Rabbit set with its handset, home base station, park-and-charge unit, documentation and carrying case.
