The Finnish mobile phone maker, Nokia, has warned of the danger of its BL-5C batteries overheating. The batteries were manufactured by Matsushita Battery Industrial Co., Ltd. of Japan between December 2005 and November 2006, Nokia said

According to the company’s statement about 46 million units of this type of batteries are being used worldwide. Mobile phone users were being asked to check the serial number and production description of their battery, as well as production date and the country of production.

The Nokia-branded BL-5C batteries subject to the product advisory could potentially experience overheating initiated by a short circuit while charging, causing the battery to dislodge.

There were around 100 cases, the company said, where the batteries overheated as the mobile was being charged and then stopped working. No serious injuries or property damage have been reported.

“The supplier is responsible for quality”, said Arja Suominen, a Nokia spokeswoman in Helsinki. "It's too early to estimate the potential cost or how many batteries will be replaced" she added.