DoCoMo To Recall Batteries Used In Mitsubishi Electric Cellphones
TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Japan's DoCoMo said Thursday it is recalling battery packs used in mobile phones made by Mitsubishi Electric because of worries they will overheat and crack when recharging.
Sanyo Electric said in a separate release that the battery packs are made by a Sanyo group unit.
DoCoMo said the problem battery packs are used in FOMA D902i phones made by Mitsubishi Electric.
About 1.3 million of the battery packs made through May 2006 are subject to recall, the Japanese mobile phone service provider said.
DoCoMo said in a statement that the problem is due to deformed electrode plates installed in the batteries.
The plates could pierce the batteries' internal insulation if the battery is subject to strong external impact, resulting in an electrical short during or right after charging, DoCoMo said.
It said it has confirmed that one battery has ruptured due to the problem, while 17 other cases of battery rupture or overheating have been reported.
Earlier this year, Sony Corp. (6758.TO) was forced to recall up to 9.6 million laptop computer battery packs supplied to the world's biggest computer makers, triggering huge costs that contributed to a 94% plunge in its net profit for the July-September quarter.
Sanyo said Thursday it is calculating the effect the battery recall will have on its consolidated earnings.
-By Kenneth McCallum, Dow Jones Newswires; 813-5255-2929; ken.mccallum@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires"
Posted to the site on 7th December 2006
