Sharp has become the latest laptop maker to ask its customers to return Sony-made notebook batteries. Its recall of some 28,000 power packs came as Fujitsu increased the size of its own battery recall by a further 51,000 units.

Sharp's recall focuses on its home market of Japan. Fujitsu's recall is worldwide in scope.

Sharp said seven of its machines were affected by the recall - the PC-MR40J, PC-MR50H, PC-MR60HS, PC-MR80H, PC-MR80HU, PC-MR80J and PC-MR8BH7 - and the company's CE-BL44 battery pack.

Like Fujitsu, Sharp said it was taking advantage of Sony's own voluntary battery recall programme, initiated in September and which only extends to laptop vendors. The Japanese notebook maker was quick to claim it had had no reports of its products overheating and catching fire as has been the case with some Dell and Apple units, and possibly other vendors' machines. ®