Samsung To Render Galaxy Note 7 Inoperable
In Samsung’s latest attempt to get their hazardous line of defective Galaxy Note 7 smartphones out of the hands of U.S. consumers; all carriers will send out an update rendering every unit inoperable. The update to “prevent US Galaxy Note 7 devices from charging” will be released on December 19th and sent out to every operating unit over the following 30 days. This announcement follows a previous update that currently prevents the smartphones (that have a tendency to burst into flames) from charging beyond 60 percent. In addition, every current Note 7 owner is being bombarded with pop-up messages, informing them that their phone has been recalled every time they activate the screen.
In September, shortly after the launch of their intended flagship line, Samsung recalled the Galaxy Note 7 when they started receiving reports of the device catching fire, burning consumers, and causing property damage. Replacements were sent out, but the substitute phones began igniting as well, forcing Samsung to recall the entire line in October. Meanwhile, Samsung continues to “encourage any remaining Galaxy Note 7 owners to participate in the (recall) program and to take advantage of the financial incentives.”
Samsung said that 93% of the recalled phones have been returned or replaced in the U.S., but that still leaves more than 130,000 potentially unsafe Note 7 smartphones out in the market. Initially, not all of Samsung’s carriers were on board will the “bricking” update, as it is called. Verizon immediately came out against the decision and quickly announced that they would not be “taking part in this update,” over concerns that their customers may not have another device to switch over to before traveling for the holidays. The nationwide carrier feared that the update could “make it impossible to contact family, first responders or medical professionals in an emergency situation.”
After a week of closed door negotiations, Verizon has decided to capitulate, but they will wait until after the holiday season and release the update on January 5th. AT&T is following suit, holding off until the same day, while Sprint will launch the update three days later on January 8th. T-Mobile will be the first carrier to send out the software update, which will end the short and troubled four-month life of the Galaxy Note 7 in the United States, on December 27th. North of the border, Canada announced that all Note 7’s have had their wireless networking capabilities deactivated.
Despite the recall and significant financial losses, Samsung remains the largest seller of smartphones worldwide. The Korean tech giant sold more than 70 million smartphones last quarter, 27 million more than Apple sold over the same time period. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in October and November, showed that Samsung owners are just as devote to their brand as Apple customers—maybe even more so, as some consumers have been willing to risk injury to hang on to their recalled Note 7s, which could go up in flames at any moment.
If you are a current Samsung Galaxy Note 7 owner see: http://www.samsung.com/us/note7recall/