Polycom voluntarily recalls phone battery packs

Polycom Inc. and the Consumer Safety Product Commission voluntarily recalled about 5,800 wireless conference phone battery packs Thursday because they may cause a fire hazard.

The SoundStation2W wireless conference phones sold by Polycom contain lithium ion batteries. The product's battery packs, supplied by Gold Peak Industries Ltd., can possibly overheat, creating a fire or burn hazard.

Polycom said it has received one report of a battery pack overheating and causing minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled battery packs were sold with the SoundStation 2W phones from December 1, 2007 until May 2, 2008, and separately as replacement battery packs during the same period.

The phones were sold for $700 to $900 through catalogs, online, telesales, office supply stores, the Polycom Web site and Fry's Electronics stores. Replacement battery packs were sold for $50 to $90 through the same outlets.

Consumers are advised to immediately remove the battery packs from the phones and to contact Polycom for a free replacement. The phones can still be used without the battery packs by keeping the charger plugged into the unit. The company does not advise using battery packs from other suppliers in the phones.

Shares of Polycom fell 11 cents to $25.47 in morning trading.