Nokia Investigating Reported Cell Phone Explosions

Iphtashu Fitz writes "C|Net's news.com is reporting that a man in the Netherlands suffered burns to his leg when the Nokia phone in his pants pocket exploded. This is the second reported incident of Nokia phones exploding, the first one being back in August when a Dutch woman's phone exploded in her hand. Nokia blamed the first incident on a third party battery that the woman was using and warned customers to only use Nokia parts and accessories with their phones. However this most recent explosion involved a new Nokia phone with a Nokia battery installed."

Comments

This is scary

[l810c]

I've had my most recent Nokia for 2 years. It can get Really Hot when I talk for a long time(>20 minutes). It actually gets uncomfortable to hold to my ear.

Is it about to explode? Any links on what signs to look for before your cell phone battery explodes? A search for 'exploding battery' on Nokia.com didn't return any results. Seems like they should take a more proactive approach and at least issue a warning. I couldn't find any.

Re:This is scary

[Richard_L_James]

> It can get Really Hot when I talk for a long time(>20 minutes).

Does this have anything to do with the type of calls you are making ??

Re:This is scary

[Lost Penguin]

"Any links on what signs to look for before your cell phone battery explodes?"

If the caller ID says "Mossad", do not answer.

Re:This is scary

[lgftsa]

Yes, long distance calls use more power, as they have transmit the signal further.

Talking loudly can mitigate this, as the AGC(automatic gain control) detects the higher volume, and so doesn't need to amplify the radio signal quite as much. Not a big saving, but every bit counts.

You can also (if you have a phone with an external antenna) lean the tip of the antenna against a metal object(street sign, light post, scaffolding, etc) and the signal will be inducted into the object and act like a really big antenna. You can see this on those car antennas which are mounted on rear windows without drilling a hole - they use electromagnetic induction as well.

Finally, if the signal is really boarderline, you can try changing the polarization of the signal from vertical to horizontal by holding the phone parallel to the ground. This is a trick used by people on the edge of TV coverage areas, and especially on campervans and RVs. Some antennas are even motorized so you don't have to get out and fool about with a spanner and the U-bolt.

If nothing else works, try circular polarization. This is tricky, as you have to spin around with the phone's antenna as the center of rotation.

Hey...

[The Human Cow]

Is that an exploding cell phone in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?

Verizon

[damiena]

Can you hear me now?

*BOOM*

IMPORTANT

[I don't want to spen]

Don't set your ring tone to the 1812 overture ....

Batteries do explode and its not just Nokia...

[toupsie]

I have a Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse that is powered by double-a batteries. On night, I was surfing the web and heard a loud POP. No, I wasn't surfing porn. I spent 5 minutes wondering where this loud sound came from. I looked at my tangled mess of power strips plugged into power strips. I looked all over and found nada. Then thinking I had just imagined the sound or had my ear pop for some reason, I went back to surfing but my mouse wouldn't work. Sure enough, one of the brand new, brand name double-a batteries exploded in the mouse. It destroyed the inside electronics of the mouse. Thank Microsoft uses a sturdy plastic in them or it could have been a very painful right hand.

Remember, batteries are full of energy -- DUH! One defect and BAM! you have a little bomb after prolonged use. One reason you shouldn't throw them in a fire unless you are really drunk and have track shoes on.

Think of the odds!

[shplorb]

Q: How many phones do Nokia sell each year?
A: Millions

Q: How many of their phones explode each year?
A: 1 or 2

Q: How many cars are sold each year?
A: Millions

Q: How many people die on the roads each year?
A: Thousands

Conclusion: You have a greater chance of dying in a car crash than having your mobile phone explode.

Re:Maybe if they spent more time working on phones

[ma i ude]

(No, I don't work for Nokia. Yes, I'm a Finn.)

Informative? Well, at least it's not informed. Nokia has been around in one form or another for over a century. Nokia is actually a fusion of three companies and three businesses: wood (since 1865), rubber (1898) and cables (1912). The name "Nokia" is actually a place in Finland. Yes, we all know it sounds Japanese.

Through the years Nokia has bought other companies and expanded its business into new areas. In fact the company had practically nothing to do with electronics until the late 80's. The company has continued to narrow down its focus, unlike the parent suggested.

Particularly under Jorma Ollila, Nokia decided to focus on electronics and especially communications and started to sell its other functions away. Most of newly formed companies wanted to be associated with the Nokia brand, so many chose names with suitable connotations. Therefore, you now have Nokian tyres (the 'n' at the end of the word is the genitive case, so the word actually means "Nokia's tyres"), NK cables and Nokian footwear. Pretty much every Finn has a pair of (old 'Nokia' or new 'Nokian') rubber boots. Fine boots them. Used them in the army too.

Anyway, calling Nokia simply a "cell phone company", or calling for Nokia to become one, is misinformed. Although mobile phones are definitely the most visible area to the consumer, the company provides a much wider range of communication solutions including mobile base stations and networks. In the consumer market they've made a few lemons though; the IP55 ADSL router, a rebranded Webramp, comes to mind, as does the N-Gage. :) But the MediaMaster was/is a fine product.