Apple recalls iPhone 3G power adapter, but replacements not ready until October 10

Davey Winder
Saturday, 20 September 2008 18:50

Your IT - Mobility

Apple is no stranger to recalls: first there were those 1.8 million laptop batteries, followed by rather less of the old iPod Nano devices in Japan which could possibly catch fire in your trousers. Despite problems with 3G reception and cracking cases, the iPhone 3G has managed to escape such drastic action. Until now...

Product recalls can either be looked upon in terms of good publicity or bad publicity. The former applies if you think a company is acting in the interests of your safety, and acting in a speedy manner.

The latter, of course can still apply even if those conditions have been met. The bad publicity kicks in when people start asking why a potentially dangerous product was released into the market in the first place.

It's a little too early to say how this particular Apple recall will get painted, considering it was only announced yesterday.

If you have purchased an iPhone 3G that comes complete with an Apple Ultracompact USB Power Adapter, then here's the potentially shocking bad news: the small metal prongs can break off in the power socket and create a shock hazard.

Apple says that it has "received reports of detached blades involving a very small percentage of the adapters sold" but insists that "no injuries have been reported" as a result.

The power adapters in question were supplied with every iPhone 3G sold in the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico. They could also have been purchased as a separate accessory item in these countries as well.

In Latin America things are a little more complicated, with the same 'supplied as standard or accessory' option in Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru.

However, in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and Panama the adapters were only sold as accessories. Australian and European users would appear not to be at risk, unless they purchased their iPhones in one of the aforementioned countries of course.

The recall and replace process is, to the credit of Apple, not at all complex. Those users who are at risk can complete a web-form to organise an exchange, or take the defective item into an Apple Store from October 10th.

In the meantime the advice is not to use your iPhone 3G with the problematical power supply, and charge direct from a car charger, a standard Apple USB adapter or their computer. Apple has yet to explain why there is such a delay in supplying safe units, although it did say:

"Customer safety is always Apple's top priority, and therefore we have voluntarily decided to exchange every ultracompact power adapter for a new, redesigned adapter, free of charge. Users with ultracompact power adapters should immediately stop using them until they exchange them for a new, redesigned ultracompact adapter."