Accessories
Bell Novatel MiFi Cards Recalled for Battery Issues
Bell Mobility (serving Canada) is not only recalling its MiFi 2372 cards, it has switched off service to those card users, due to a heat issue that may cause the battery to swell and obviously malfunction. Bell Mobility is sending out envelopes for customers to return the units and they will be replaced, although the replacement time is listed as 6 to 8 weeks. In the interim, customers will receive a Novatel U998 Turbo Stick (USB) Modem to use.
Via Engadget
Gavin Miller
05/04/2010 at 9:12 am
Hmmm, my Novatel MiFi often ‘hangs’ and gets very hot. I need to remove the battery to get it to respond again. I wonder if, and how, the problem would be limited to Bell branded cards, unless of course it’s just a firmware issue.
Kevin Thornton
05/04/2010 at 10:46 am
Hi Warner,
This is Kevin Thornton with the Novatel Wireless team, below is the official statement from Novatel Wireless regarding the Bell MiFi 2372:
Novatel’s top priorities are to serve our customers and end-consumers and to provide for the safe use of our products. There have been two incidents reported from Bell and Virgin Mobile Canada, with battery overheating issues. While we can’t comment on specific consumer incidents, it has been reported that some customers have had difficulties opening the battery door thus utilizing sharp objects or excessive force to open it. While doing this, customers can inadvertently puncture the battery when trying to remove it and this can cause the battery to over-heat. To reduce the probability of user-induced damage to the battery, we have redesigned the battery door to make it easier to open.
Any product or battery issue is considered a matter of utmost importance for Novatel Wireless. Consistent with that and as a preventive measure, the Company has communicated an exchange program for Bell and Virgin Mobile Canada customers to replace the MiFi 2372 battery and battery door.
The MiFi 2200 — addressing the CDMA market — represents the majority of the MiFi units we have sold and has different design features and components, hence, it is not effected.