NEC Creates System For Blocking Counterfeit Batteries
from the is-that-good-or-bad? dept
There were a bunch of stories recently about exploding mobile phones, and after investigating the issue, one of two reasons always turned up: either it wasn't really an "explosion" but a "graphite discharge" or counterfeit batteries that weren't up to snuff safety-wise were what caused the explosion. Nokia has taken the stance of using these cases to warn people not to use counterfeit batteries, but NEC has gone a step further and created a system that will block fake batteries from mobile phones. While the safety argument makes sense, this is somewhat similar to efforts by printer makers to create encryption systems that block knockoff ink cartridges, and it makes you wonder if some of the incentive to do this is to keep competitors from being able to enter the market.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
