European iPods go boom boom pow
TEXT OF INTERVIEW
Steve Chiotakis: Some people overseas are worried about a little bam with their music jam. The European Commission in Brussels has launched an inquiry into exploding iPods. Consumer protection officials are investigating claims — in a handful of European countries — that both iPods and iPhones have combusted. Our man in London, Stephen Beard joins us this morning with more. Hi Stephen.
Stephen Beard: Good morning Steve.
Chiotakis: So what’s going on with this?
Beard: There’s been a small series of reported incidents in Britain, France, Holland, Sweden, where iPhones and iPods suddenly caught fire. They burst into flames. In the French case, it was an iPhone which started to crackle and pop before it exploded. In the British case it was iPod which started hissing before it went up in a terrific puff of smoke ten feet in the air.
Chiotakis: So it sounds pretty dangerous. I mean anybody injured from these explosions?
Beard: Not seriously it seems. Although in one case, apparently a bystander suffered minor eye injuries from metal and plastic splinters. There’s been damage to property. A car seat apparently was seriously burnt. And all the devices — all the iPhones and iPods concerned — were apparently totally destroyed.
Chiotakis: So the European Commission is launching this investigation. What is Apple saying?
Beard: Apple says these are isolated incidents. We’re talking here about a few of them, a dozen cases have been reported. And the company points out 226 million of these devices — all the different iPods and the iPhone — have been sold in Europe. So they’re saying this is not a widespread problem. But they’re waiting to receive the remnants of the blown-up iPods and iPhones to find out exactly what went wrong.
Chiotakis: Stephen Beard joining us from London this morning. Stephen, thanks.
Beard: OK Steve.
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