Bell Novatel MiFi 2372 deemed unsafe for human use, recalled
By Tim Stevens 
posted May 4th 2010 7:06AM
posted May 4th 2010 7:06AM
Update: Kevin from Novatel dropped us a comment with the company's official statement. We have it after the break.
Update 2: A Novatel rep would like us to clarify that the couriers in question are from UPS, and also come equipped with return envelopes for the affected 2372s. So, if anyone from FedEx tries to deliver any documentation about this situation, it's probably a trap.
[Thanks, Justin]
And here's the statement from Novatel:
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.
BOOM!!!
lucky i dont have one!
@2her0ck I actually have a MiFi 2372 w/ the redesigned door on AT&T. The redesigned door caused a multi-week delay, but all it is is ridges to make it pretty easy to open. No overheating issues here.
Thats too bad, at least Bell is handling the problem extremely well.
@Stevenk It better not be handled like the Rogers HTC Dream 911 issue. Two months ago I had to go over to my mother's friend's place to do the firmware upgrade as her phone was rendered useless due to rogers. Her PC (Win 7 64 bit) wouldn't run the update program. I had to manually install drivers for the phone to do the upgrade!
This woman used a fucking typewriter in college, and Rogers techs were unhelpful. There's a problem when a teenager making $20 off the job is useful compared to a waged employee.
Oh noes! Faulty lithium-ion batteries!
Since I can't find any more info I'll assume this only affects the Novatel Mifi 2372 and not the 2200 and others.
@ScaryFast
I'm not so sure if this problem is isolated to the MiFi 2372. A while back I observed strange charging problems with my MiFi 2352. My supplier first exchanged the charger without any effect and later the complete unit including the battery.
http://blog.perstechlife.com/2009/10/22/mifi-2352-does-novatel-have-a-larger-problem-with-charger-or-device/
http://blog.perstechlife.com/2010/05/04/novatel-recall…ttery-problems/
@ScaryFast
Novatel now has cleared the MiFi 2200.
Battery doors for the MiFi 2372 and the MiFi 2352 have been changed since late April and are now shipping with new battery doors.
It remains unclear if they can rule out any battery problems for the 2352 and 2372 that are not related to the battery door and users forcing their device open.
My updates are here:
http://blog.perstechlife.com/2010/05/04/novatel-recalling-mifi-2372-devices-due-to-battery-problems
Right when i thought this was coming to AT&T.
@Stevenk I've been waiting for it to come to at&t. I'm tired of waiting so I'm picking up a Verizon Mifi soon.
@Stevenk
Don't you mean Cingular (given your avatar)?
@Smart People Play Tuba I wish, i miss the Cingular brand!
@Stevenk
My current phone still says "Cingular."
(Man, I need a new phone.)
What about it was unsafe? I can't see the letter.
@zeroinfinity2 : it goes BOOM!!
On the plus side, the MRI images they produced were really quite detailed.
Aw weak, just another battery recall?
I was hoping for radiowave induced lymphoblastic cancer or better yet something that sparks a violent hyperrage zombie outbreak.
Right when I was looking into getting one. Thanks Engadget!
For those who have an Android phone, root it and use the wireless tether app or download Barnacle from the Market Place - works like a miracle..
I don't like the part where they remotely deactivated the devices
Yes, they did this for safety (blah blah blah)
But imagine in the future, if the company don't like how you use the device, they could just remote control your device and deactivate your device regardless the fact that it's yours already.
I don't like this.
@(Unverified) They deactivated the sim card in the device making the device incapable of connecting to the cellular signal.
This seems like a hoax.
There is nothing on Novatel's wireless about a recall; ust a battery advisory on handling it with care when removing it (posted on April 30,2010).
The 1-800 number on the recall letter doesn't seem to work either...and Expansys knows nothing about this recall. Not sure if they are an authorized distributor though...
And lastly my Mifi 2372 still works perfectly so its not remotely disabled...yet?
@np0531
It is certainly not a hoax...
@np0531 Are you in Canada? If not, you need to dial the country code first, which is 011.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget 011 is not the country code. It is the international access code. And, as per the North American Numbering Plan, Canada is part of the "1" country code (ex.: +1-613-555-1212 where 613 is in Ontario).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Numbering_Plan
Maybe they just want a chance to lock down the firmware?
I use my Droid as a mifi. Problem solved.
lol @ ipad not having usb ports.
that would be too complicated for the simpleton user base.
@DoctarPeppar Even if it did have a USB port, where would the drivers for said 3G USB modem come from?
@icase81
From the manufacturer who made the chipset the modem is using!?!??!?
Whow, what device would not have a USB port in these days...oh...yes there is this inflated smartphone...what is it called now...iCrap or something !
Well toys do not count do they :-)
it might be a good idea to at least mention why it is dangerous in the sum up before the jump, instead of having to figure out why by reading the letter.
@jecks Fair point. I made it a little clearer.
If it can kill you, they blew it.
2200 seems to be working fine. Is this just that specific model?
Hmm, I'm always a bit suprised how hot my 2200 gets after 20-40 min of sustained use. I hope that's not a symtom.
p.s. It gets REALLY damn hot, almost too hot to put in a front pants pocket
"they were all remotely deactivated yesterday morning"
kind of scary how much stuff can be remotely deactivated.
Ummmm... why not just send out a repaired router rather than a temporary usb stick?
Hi Tim,
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.
@KevThorntonNPI Thanks, Kevin. I've updated the post with this.
@TimStevens No problem, thank you for providing the update.