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Nokia initiates shocking charger recall program (update: affects 14 million)

by Thomas Ricker posted Nov 9th 2009 @ 4:30AM

New Nokia owners take notice: Espoo just launched an "exchange program" for certain Nokia-branded chargers. According to the world's largest handset maker:

"We have determined that the plastic covers of the affected chargers could come loose and separate, exposing the charger's internal components and potentially posing an electric shock hazard if certain internal components are touched while the charger is plugged into a live socket."

The chargers affected are models AC-3E and AC-3U, manufactured between June 15 and August 9, 2009, and model AC-4U, manufactured between April 13 and October 25, 2009. Fortunately, Nokia provides a website that removes all the guesswork from obtaining your free replacement.

Update: Gulp, looks like we're talking about 14 million defective chargers.

Show full PR text

NOKIA PRESS RELEASE November 9, 2009

Nokia initiates charger exchange program

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today initiated a charger exchange program, in which consumers owning certain Nokia-branded chargers manufactured by a third-party supplier are recommended to exchange these chargers for free replacements.

During a routine quality control process, Nokia identified a potential product quality issue with certain chargers manufactured by one of its third-party suppliers. The plastic covers of the affected chargers could come loose and separate, exposing the charger's internal components and potentially posing an electrical shock hazard if certain internal components are touched while the charger is plugged into a live socket. Nokia is not aware of any incidents or injuries related to these chargers.

Only a limited number of chargers of certain model types manufactured by a single third-party supplier during a specific time period are within the scope of the exchange program. They are the AC-3E and AC-3U models, manufactured between June 15, 2009 and August 9, 2009; and the AC-4U model, manufactured between April 13, 2009 and October 25, 2009.

For more information, including how consumers can check to see if their chargers are part of this exchange program, Nokia has established a website. Consumers are asked to visit http://chargerexchange.nokia.com or their local Nokia website.

Nokia recommends consumers with chargers within the scope of this exchange program to stop using the charger and exchange it for a free replacement.

"Stealth ringtone" can only be heard by teens

by Chris Ziegler posted May 25th 2006 @ 1:30PM

We admit, the vibrating alerts in some phones are extraordinarily loud, often too loud to be discreet. And if the phone is sitting on a hard surface? Forget it. Motorola's BUZR could be years away, if we ever see it at all, so what's a mischievous, cellphone-toting student to do when phones are banned from class? Rumors are flying that students in the UK have recorded the sound produced by a device called the Mosquito, designed to disperse roving gangs of teenagers by emitting a sound that can only be heard by youngsters. By using the recording as their ringtone, they hear it (along with their friends and any nearby canines) while the poor headmaster is left in the dark. It's debatable whether your average cellphone is capable of producing sounds in the range necessary to elicit this effect, so this may be nothing more than a rumor, but if you see packs of dogs belting out some tunes near the local high school, you know what's probably going on.

[Via Ringtonia and BoingBoing]

Motorola patents cellphone shock BUZR

by Marc Perton posted Apr 21st 2006 @ 11:47AM

If you need to turn that ringer off in a movie theater or meeting, but find that the ol' vibrate mode just isn't doing it for you anymore (or if you need a surefire way to wake yourself up in the AM), Moto has the answer: shock mode. The company has filed for a patent on what it calls "a system that allows a cell phone to set off electrodes on a stimulator pad, alerting users of incoming calls." Moto also notes that the system can be used for "therapeutic stimulation," and that customized patterns -- think of them as the shock equivalent of ringtones -- can be downloaded to enhance the experience. We assume it'll only be a matter of time before someone figures out how to use this as a weapon (or at least a 21st century alternative to the joy buzzer) as well. And if you thought you had trouble getting through security with your camera phone, just give it a try with one of these babies.

[Via Mobiledia]