Nokia offers extensive services for BL-5C batteries

New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) World's largest handsets manufacturer Nokia today announced a series of special services including SMS, helpline and website to help its consumers expeditious identification of the ''BL-5C'' batteries and subsequent replacements, if required.

Customers can call Nokia Care at 30303838 prefixed by the local STD code if dialing from a mobile number or 080 if dialing from a landline and can cross-check the serial number on his/her battery, Nokia India said in a statement.

They can even SMS BT (space) followed by 26 character battery identification number and send it to 5555 or customers can log on to www.nokia.co.in and enter the 26 character battery identification number.

In case the battery is covered under the product advisory, the consumer will be advised to replace the battery.

''A new free battery will be delivered at the doorstep by courier, in exchange of the old battery. For all other cases which are not covered under the product advisory, the consumer can safely continue to use the battery,'' the company said.

Nokia on Tuesday said up to 46 million BL-5C batteries used in a range of its handsets from the 1100 to the latest E60 are at risk of overheating during charging. It has offered to replace all these 46 million suspect batteries for free.

The company does not have any estimates as to how many of these 46 million handsets which contain these batteries could be in India.

It also said that of the 300 million BL-5C batteries manufactured by several suppliers, only about 46 million produced by Japan's Matsushita Battery Industrial Co between December 2005 and November 2006 are suspected to have this problem.

UNI