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'Previously, we believed there were no problems with our batteries, but now we're in discussions with Sony, just to make sure,' Stella Chou, an Acer representative, told the IDG news agency.

So far Apple, Dell, Fujitsu, IBM, Lenovo and Toshiba have recalled batteries that could potentially overheat, and in extreme cases catch fire. However that is only half of the dozen companies that Sony said had received faulty supplies.

Should Acer announce a recall, it will leave HP and, somewhat ironically, Sony itself as the only leading laptop maker that have not instigated a replacement programme.

'HP has been in contact with Sony, the manufacturer of the battery cells in question, and Sony has communicated that HP should not be impacted by these recalls,' HP said in a statement. 'HP does not use Sony battery packs.'

Although it added that it uses some Sony components, HP stressed that it employs different battery charging design to Dell and a different battery protection system to Apple.