Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone vendor, has announced that it will replace 46 million batteries, free of charge. The batteries in question (all of which bear the model number BL-5C) were manufactured by Japanese company Matsushita between December 2005 and November 2006 and in some instances, can pose a safety hazard. Apparently, a short circuit can occur while the battery is charging, causing the battery to overheat and expand. According to Nokia, 100 cases of overheating have been reported thus far, though "[n]o serious injuries or property damage have been reported."
For more on the issue:
- see this press release
Check to see if your battery is affected:
- see this product advisory