Exploding cell phones

[Miulang]

If you own a Kyocera cell phone (mostly offered through Verizon) and are using off-brand batteries in it, please read the following warning about the possibility of having it explode while you are using it! :eek:

Miulang

http://wireless.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=28705

[adrian]

That is why I don't use any flashing or "cheap" (cell phone) batteries.

A battery is a power thing, and if you don't use it carefully, then it can do harm.

[pzarquon]

While most cell phone horror stories are the stuff of urban legends, even the urban-legend experts at Snopes.com have been noting an increase in the number of real cell-phone incidents (http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/cellcharge.asp) leading to injury and death.

Given the other activities people undertake on a daily basis, the chances of your gadget killing you are incredibly small. Of course, that doesn't mean you should jump at the chance for an off-brand, $1 used battery on eBay!

[Glen Miyashiro]

Is it significant that all the incidents in the Snopes article were from Asian countries? Perhaps the use of off-brand batteries is more common over there. Then again, think of all the recalls of Powerbook batteries through the years for fire hazard problems. Batteries are serious technology.

[Miulang]

Which reminds me: anybody who has a Dell laptop with a power plug/recharger that says it comes from Thailand might want to go check on the Dell website about a recall, too.

Miulang