Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon, speaks on the floor on the New York Stock Exchange, October 22, 2019.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
Verizon is recalling 2.5 million hotspot devices after discovering that the lithium-ion battery could overheat, which could cause a fire and fire hazard.
The recall affects Ellipsis Jetpack mobile hotspots introduced by Franklin Wireless Corp and sold between April 2017 and March 2021. The relevant models are marked: MHS900L, MHS900LS and MHS900LPP. Verizon announced the recall Thursday along with a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
A Verizon spokesman said just over 1 million of the recalled devices are currently in use, meaning they are currently or recently being used by customers.
According to the recall notice issued by the CPSC, Verizon received 15 reports of the hotspots overheating. Six of these reports included incidents of fire damage to bedding or floors, and two sustained minor burns.
The recall comes at a time when more consumers have relied on hotspots to get right during home orders due to the pandemic. Some of the hotspots were provided by their schools to students to learn further, according to the recall notice. Parents receiving hotspots from their children’s schools are advised to contact the schools about receiving a replacement.
Other customers can request a replacement by going to ellipsisjetpackrecall.expertinquiry.com or calling 855-205-2627.
The company has already sent a software update to powered hotspots which they say will reduce the risk of overheating. The update prevents the hotspot from loading while it is turned on. Verizon also offered tips to prevent overheating, including turning off devices when not in use, placing them on a flat, solid surface, making sure nothing covers them and no longer exposed to extreme temperatures. do not expose.
“The safety of our customers is our top priority,” Verizon said in a statement. “We take the situation very seriously and are working diligently to determine the cause of the problems at the supplier and to provide free replacement devices to all our customers.”
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