Motorola V600

I just got a V600 to replace an old cell phone that is several years old, was bigger, did not use a SIM card and had a battery that attached to the exterior of the phone. I tried to insert the battery so I could charge it up and wasn't sure if the black plastic quadrangle needed to be taken off or was part of the battery. From looking at the picture in the manual it appears not to be present, and I thought this was some type of protective cap that I remembered batteries coming in, and I took it off. When I've tried to place the battery in I see sparks go off and it starts getting real hot. Did I err in taking the black surrounding piece off? Is there something particular I could be doing wrong that's making it spark and get hot? I can'...
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