Checking models online is inconvenient, say phone users
Mobile phone users and sellers yesterday criticised the 'cumbersome' method Nokia had devised for its customers to replace batteries with the potential to overheat.
Concerns about the replacement exercise were raised after the world's largest mobile phonemaker released a global advisory yesterday afternoon, saying there were problems with 46 million batteries.
The batteries, made by Matsushita Battery Industrial of Japan between late 2005 and late 2006, could short-circuit and overheat while charging. About 100 incidents have been reported to Nokia worldwide.
Consumers can use the Nokia website to find out whether their batteries are at risk and arrange for a replacement to be mailed to them. They can also get a replacement by calling its hotline, although this line was permanently busy last night.
Some users complained the procedure was inconvenient and they did not know how long they would have to wait before getting a replacement.
Tam Wai-hung, who has a Nokia 6600 phone fitted with a suspect battery, said: 'I never found the phone to be hot. It's a parallel import purchased in Mong Kok. I have no idea how to get a replacement. I am lost already looking at a screen full of English instructions.'
