New Nokia Australia MD to address phone defect claims - News - Communications

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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New Nokia Australia MD to address phone defect claims

By Andrew Colley, 0
January 18, 2002
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/New-Nokia-Australia-MD-to-address-phone-defect-claims/0,130061791,120263019,00.htm

Alan Nicklos's first task when he replaces Tyler McGee as Managing Director of Nokia Australia early in February will be dealing with the continuing phone-furore that has the NSW Department of Fair Trading investigating the company's activities.

The new managing director said he would steer the company through the controversy on the same course set by his predecessor.

"Regardless of who is at the helm, we take product quality and customer service very seriously. We continue our normal practice of investigating and monitoring all feedback given to us, and working with all appropriate external bodies," said Nicklos.

Nicklos joins Nokia Australia at an extremely tumultuous time. The mobile phone giant met with Fair Trading late last year to "discuss" a tide of user complaints and allegations that it is knowingly manufacturing faulty mobile phones and plans to conduct another meeting some time in February.

The Department is encouraging members of the public who have evidence that Nokia phones carry inherent design faults to come forward.

"The Department is continuing its investigation and would welcome input from ZDNet readers," said a Fair Trading spokesperson. "We ask ZDNet to provide any evidence that it has (as distinct from complaints and allegations) that a design fault exists", he added later in his statement.

The spokesperson was unable to confirm whether NSW Fair Trading has requested Nokia service records for the 8210, the model that has attracted the majority of customer complaints received by ZDNet Australia, which are held by its repair centres.

"The Department has sought evidence from the company in relation to this issue but is not in a position to publicly outline the nature of any material sought," he said. "The Department will not be in a position to make a public comment until the investigation is complete, and investigators are able to draw a conclusion from the evidence."

Meanwhile, the allegations that sparked controversy surrounding Nokia's mobile phones may start to surface closer to the company's home. ZDNet Australia has recently received complaints regarding the alleged phone defects from Nokia customers throughout Western Europe.