Verizon is recalling 2.5 million Ellipsis Jetpack hotspots over a fire risk

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What you need to know

  • Verizon is recalling 2.5 million Ellipsis Jetpack hotspots over a potential fire risk.
  • The models MHS900L, MHS900LS, and MHS900LPP are affected.

Verizon is recalling 2.5 million Ellipsis Jetpack hotspots because they get too hot, potentially causing a fire if left to their own devices.

First spotted by MacRumors, Verizon and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are working together on the recall with the carrier saying that three particular models are affected.

Verizon is working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to recall Ellipsis Jetpack mobile hotspot devices, including models MHS900L, MHS900LS and MHS900LPP. During investigations with the supplier, it has been determined that the lithium-ion battery in the Ellipsis Jetpack devices can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard.

While a recall is now in operation and free replacements are being offered, Verizon also notes that there have been two software updates pushed out that should help alleviate the problem.

Additionally, all powered-on Ellipsis Jetpacks have received two over-the-air, automatic software updates. The first enables the device's identifying number to be viewed on its scrolling screen to help facilitate its exchange, and the second prevents the device from charging while the device is plugged in and powered on. This will help reduce some of the risk of overheating by preventing the device from charging while it is plugged in and powered on.

Verizon also says that you should make sure your hotspot is adequately ventilated and that you aren't exposing it to high temperatures, too.

Anyone looking for more information can find it on the web or by calling 855-205-2627, Verizon says.

Of course, all of this could be avoided if you just picked up one of the best mobile hotspots available, instead. Another option is to use the Instant Hotspot feature on your iPhone instead.

Oliver Haslam
Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.