French iPhone Explodes Again

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

France and iPhones don’t seem to mix well together. A second iPhone exploded in France according to AFP news report. Yassine Bouhadi, a 26-year-old supermarket security was typing a text message on Monday afternoon when the screen exploded. Yassine claimed that glasses from the exploding iPhone injured his eyes. He plans to see a doctor and file charges against those responsible.

France’s consumer protection agency, known as the DGCCRF, is currently looking into this situation. DGCCRF is also investigating the first iPhone explosion case in France earlier in August when a French teenager was injured in the eyes from an exploding iPhone. An iPod Touch explosion in the UK was also reported earlier this month.

Apple has assured the European Union that the exploding glass screens are “isolated incidents.” But French consumer rights group, UFC-Que Choisir, has its doubts. They want Apple to communicate more about possible iPhone defects and issue guidelines to prevent the iPhone from causing bodily injuries.

There are many reports of iPhone and iPod explosions recently. Some attributes this problem to overheated lithium ion batteries. Hopefully outcome from these reports will allow Apple to make safer products without impeding technological advancements of the iPhone.