Sony Battery Woes Deepen

Toshiba said on Friday it would recall 830,000 laptop computer batteries, which Sony has said can short-circuit on rare occasions, overheat and catch fire. Fujitsu did not give the number of batteries to be replaced.

Earlier this month Sony also delayed the European launch of new game console PlayStation 3 by four months to March due to a production glitch.

The two personal computer manufacturers joined others that have recalled Sony batteries including Dell Inc., Apple Computer Inc. and Lenovo.

Sony announced a battery replacement programme on Thursday in the wake of yet another recall.

International Business Machines Corp. and Lenovo are recalling more than half a million notebook PC batteries made by Sony after a computer caught fire at Los Angeles International Airport, Lenovo and U.S. officials said on Thursday.

Sony said short circuits could occur on rare occasions when tiny metal particles come in contact with other parts of the batteries.

Toshiba's recall brings the number of Sony batteries recalled to more than 7 million since Dell in mid-August said it was recalling 4.1 million notebook batteries. Dell on Friday nudged up the number to 4.2 million.

ALLEVIATING CONCERNS

Sony shares have lost 8.6 percent since Dell's initial announcement in August, while the Nikkei has gained 1.7 percent.