Nokia today warned that up to 46 million batteries used in some of its cell phones could be faulty and pose a risk of overheating.

The advisory applies to batteries manufactured by Matsushita from December 2005 to November 2006, the world's largest mobile phone maker said. Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. Ltd. of Japan is one of several suppliers that have together made some 300 million BL-5C batteries.

Nokia has identified that in very rare cases the BL-5C batteries could potentially experience overheating initiated by a short circuit while charging, causing the battery to dislodge. There have been approximately 100 incidents of overheating reported globally. No serious injuries or property damage have been reported. All of the approximately 100 incidents have occurred while charging the battery.

Concerned consumers can request a replacement for any BL-5C battery subject to this product advisory.

In order to determine if a battery is subject to this advisory, it is necessary to remove the battery from the device. A Nokia battery will have "Nokia" and "BL-5C" printed on the front of the battery. On the reverse, the Nokia mark appears at the top and the battery identification number (consisting of 26 characters) is found at the bottom. Consumers should refer to this identification number to determine if their battery is among the batteries manufactured by Matsushita between December 2005 and November 2006. A comparison of that number with those subject to this advisory will determine a consumer's ability to obtain a replacement free of charge.

Consumers should visit the website www.nokia.com/batteryreplacement or contact their local Nokia call center.