Mobile phone-maker Ericsson was  in court yesterday after a Cantonese businessman, unsatisfied with  the quality of his phone, launched a legal suit in Beijing, according  to today's Chinadaily.

    With a mobile phone that apparently brought his business career  to a standstill, the businessman began the showdown against the  global handset maker yesterday and requested 124,935 yuan (US$15,200)  in compensation.

    Middle-aged Yang Jianchu vented his rage in the district-level  court in Beijing and said Ericsson had duped consumers with the  T18sc mobile phone.

    Yang is the first person to enter a legal battle with the giant  producer, which is facing complaints from another 15 consumers in  areas ranging from Beijing to Southwest China's Chengdu. None of  the consumers is satisfied with the quality of the phone. The cases  of the other 15 plaintiffs are expected to open later this year.

    The Sweden-based mobile phone giant has hit back by saying that  it has changed the motherboard, the battery and battery charger,  in a bid to improve its quality.

    Yet it acknowledged the glitches of the handset and expressed  sympathy to Yang, who had tried to have his mobile phone repaired  six times.