Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 batteries

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Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 batteries

Toshiba Corp. has offered to exchange 340,000 notebook computer batteries, but said they do not pose a fire hazard. Instead, defective batteries could unexpectedly cut power to the notebooks, causing users to lose unsaved work.

The batteries, made by Sony Corp., may fail to charge correctly, causing the power to cut off suddenly if the notebook is not connected to a main outlet, said Toshiba spokesman Keisuke Ohmori.

Reports of lithium ion cells in notebook batteries overheating or catching fire have prompted other computer manufacturers, including Apple Computer Inc. and Dell Inc., to issue safety recalls. Dell recalled 4.1 million batteries used in its notebook computers in August, citing a fire hazard, while Apple recalled 1.8 million batteries, warning that they could overheat.

Toshiba's batteries are not at risk of starting a fire, Ohmori said. "There is no such hazardous or related issue," he said. Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 batteries Linked by LT Hacker