Battery danger concerns over Novatel’s MiFi 2372

Some devices seem just too good to be true and it would appear that the Novatel Wireless Inc. MiFi 2372 3G router being sold through Canadian operator Bell Mobility is just one of those products, with Bell urgently sending out letters this week notifying owners of an emergency recall, owing to fears over faulty batteries.
The little Novatel MiFi is a rather nifty little device which is able to provide wireless access to the Internet, email and even corporate LANs for 3G access to mobile broadband networks with speeds of 7.2 Mpbs for download and 5.76 Mbps upload.
Unlike existing routers that require an external broadband modem and which only provide connectivity, the MiFi platform emanates a personal cloud of high-speed Internet connectivity.
It supports multiple users which means it can act as a hotspot and connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices at a time and can last for up to four hours on its rechargeable lithium battery.
Unfortunately, however, it’s this self-same lithium battery which has now proved a danger, with Engadget noting that the devices power source is liable to explode in some cases, causing damage and harm to users.
Bell employs a rather less dramatic explanation in its letter to customers, noting the firm “has become aware that in some cases a battery may swell causing malfunction of the device.”
Bell encourages people to send their MiFis back to Bell, as a “new battery cover is now available,” although the swap could take between six to eight weeks, enough to push any internet addict over the edge of insanity.
For those desperate enough to weigh the loss of their MiFi against the loss of a limb, Bell is taking no chances and has also remotely deactivated all its MiFi 2372’s.
Realizing MiFi addicts may not be able to go cold turkey, Novatel says it is also sending a U998 Turbo Stick to any customer returning their MiFi for repair. Unfortunately, since these require a USB port, devices like music players and iPads won’t be able to take advantage of the fix.
In other, more optimistic MiFi related news today, Novatel announced that it had secured MiFi as an officially registered trademark of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“this registered trademark will protect the brand value of Novatel Wireless and the MiFi product line, which we have been building up during the last year,” said Rob Hadley, Novatel Wireless’ CMO.
*UPDATE:
RCR was contacted by a representative for Novatel citing “some confusion around language” used in the above article. According to Novatel, neither are the products exploding, nor is there a recall.
In the firm’s own words:
“No exploding batteries have been confirmed. No physical injury or major property damage has been confirmed from a unit damaged due to user induced battery issues.”
Also, Novatel protests the use of the word “recall” saying: “There is no recall. Novatel is conducting a customer service exchange program for batteries and battery doors in the MiFi 2372 device to reduce the probability of user induced damage to the battery.”