bookofjoe Nokia Battery Recall Helper

I didn't know what else to call this post so I decided to simply say what it is.

Unless you've been aboard the space shuttle these past few days you've probably heard about the massive recall of Nokia cellphone batteries just announced.

Long story short: 46 million of the 300 million Nokia model BL-5C batteries made to date may have a defect that causes them to burst into flames while recharging: so far it's happened about 100 times.

Okay, joe, that's all well and good, but where's the help?

Huh?

Is it out back with Walter Mondale's beef?

But I digress.

To find out if you have an affected battery, do the following:

1) Remove the battery compartment cover and look at the model number of the battery (top): if it's not a BL-5C, you're done — close it up and get back to work, already

2) If it is a BL-5C, remove it and turn it over and look at the tiny battery identification number as demonstrated below

3) Count to see how many characters there are: if there aren't exactly 26, you're not affected — put the battery back and get back to work, already

4) If there are 26 characters, go here, and type the 26 characters into the box at the bottom of the page, then click "Submit"

5) The next screen will either look like this:

or it will tell you that you do indeed have one of the affected batteries, with instructions on what to do to get a free replacement

There — wasn't that cool?

Now get back to work, already.

Slacker.

Full disclosure: Nokia has created a product recall website even a TechnoDolt™ can use: turns out I have not one but two (2!) BL-5C batteries for my trusty Nokia 6230 candy bar phone, purchased many years ago and somehow, after innumerable drops onto concrete and its ilk, still ticking.