Sony to recall 60,000 laptop batteries

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http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/har ... _laptop_batteries/0,130061702,339271704,00.htm

in brief Sony announced in Tokyo on Tuesday that it would recall about 60,000 batteries for its own Vaio laptop computers due to concerns about potential overheating.

The recall, initially in Japan, may also be extended to overseas, a Sony spokeswoman said.

Last month Sony announced a global replacement program for its batteries used by other computer manufacturers but until now had insisted that batteries used in its laptops posed no risk.

More than 7.5 million Sony-made batteries have been recalled by computer makers worldwide since mid-August due to concerns that the batteries may overheat and catch fire.

Sony said late August that it would incur costs of up to US$257 million (AU$341.64 million) after massive recalls of its lithium-ion batteries by US computer makers Apple Computer and Dell.

Since then Toshiba, Lenovo, Fujitsu, Hitachi and Sharp have all joined a global recall of Sony batteries for specific laptop makes. Adding to the consumer giant's woes, some Japanese firms were also considering demanding compensation.