U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | CTIA: The Wireless Association |
www.cpsc.gov | www.ctia.org |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2005 Release #05-174 |
CPSC Media Contact: Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7051 CTIA Director of Public Affairs: Joe Farren, (202) 785-0081 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Cell phones are ubiquitous in today's modern culture, with more than 170 million wireless consumers making billions of calls each year in the United States. While the convenience and usefulness of wireless devices add to their growing popularity, it is increasingly important for consumers to follow guidelines on the maintenance of wireless phones and batteries.
Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries, which are commonly found in today's cellular phones, have a lot of energy in a small package. Li-Ion batteries are more sensitive to physical stress than alkaline batteries found in toys and flashlights and need to be treated with more care.
To promote the safe use of cell phones, batteries and chargers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and CTIA-The Wireless Association, the trade organization representing various facets of the wireless industry, recommend the following:
Steve Largent, President and CEO of CTIA commented, "The wireless industry is committed to providing outstanding products to consumers and we want to make sure they're aware of how to properly care for and use those products." Largent also cited the industry's collaborative effort with IEEE, a prominent technical-standard setting organization. They have formed a working group, of which the CPSC is a member, to develop industry-wide standards for battery design and performance. Authorized laboratories will test batteries to these standards for the purpose of certifying compliance.
"The work we're doing in developing battery standards and our cooperation with U.S. Customs and law enforcement agencies regarding counterfeit operations are clear illustrations of the industry's dedication to proactively and voluntarily recognizing its important role in serving its customers," added Largent.
CTIA and CPSC also urge consumers to properly dispose of their old batteries and equipment. All major carriers have recycling programs. For more information, go to www.recyclewirelessphones.com
CTIA-The Wireless Assocation is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry, representing carriers, manufacturers and wireless Internet providers.