Samsung, carriers pushing update with safety alert to un-exchanged Galaxy Note 7 phones
Amidst reports of replacement stock finally arriving at retail, Samsung is taking additional steps to ensure that Galaxy Note 7 owners turn in devices for exchange, and is in the process of pushing an update to all un-repaired devices urging owners to power down the device and comply with the recall.
On late Tuesday, Samsung confirmed that it was working with U.S wireless carriers on a software update for the beleaguered Galaxy Note 7 for users to be able to easily confirm that the device had been repaired, or had yet to be exchanged.
With update VRS2APHE, users with an older, un-repaired model will see a warning about the recall program, with information on how to turn in the phone. A device showing a green battery icon indicates a new model with the new battery.
At the same time, Samsung confirmed that it had shipped 500,000 replacements for the Galaxy Note 7 to U.S. wireless carriers for consumer replacement. AppleInsider has learned that some of the retail arms of AT&T and Verizon have received "a handful" of devices for consumer swap.
A Samsung spokeswoman notes that the "vast majority" of Galaxy Note 7 consumers have opted for a refund, or a different Galaxy-branded phone.
Samsung issued a voluntary recall worldwide for the device after wide-spread reports of battery fires during charging, and drew criticism from the U.S. Consumer Protection and Safety Commission for how the matter was being handled. All customers who have purchased a Galaxy Note 7 should now be able to swap the device for a new one either online or at wireless carrier corporate-owned stores.
Before the well-publicized battery fires in the Galaxy Note 7 forcing the recall, reviewers and YouTube examiners discovered that the Gorilla Glass 5 used for the screen of the device was significantly more susceptible to screen scratches than other smartphones, iPhone 7 family included.
Verizon has re-launched sales of the device in the U.S., but no consumer delivery date has been announced.
On late Tuesday, Samsung confirmed that it was working with U.S wireless carriers on a software update for the beleaguered Galaxy Note 7 for users to be able to easily confirm that the device had been repaired, or had yet to be exchanged.
With update VRS2APHE, users with an older, un-repaired model will see a warning about the recall program, with information on how to turn in the phone. A device showing a green battery icon indicates a new model with the new battery.
At the same time, Samsung confirmed that it had shipped 500,000 replacements for the Galaxy Note 7 to U.S. wireless carriers for consumer replacement. AppleInsider has learned that some of the retail arms of AT&T and Verizon have received "a handful" of devices for consumer swap.
A Samsung spokeswoman notes that the "vast majority" of Galaxy Note 7 consumers have opted for a refund, or a different Galaxy-branded phone.
Samsung issued a voluntary recall worldwide for the device after wide-spread reports of battery fires during charging, and drew criticism from the U.S. Consumer Protection and Safety Commission for how the matter was being handled. All customers who have purchased a Galaxy Note 7 should now be able to swap the device for a new one either online or at wireless carrier corporate-owned stores.
Before the well-publicized battery fires in the Galaxy Note 7 forcing the recall, reviewers and YouTube examiners discovered that the Gorilla Glass 5 used for the screen of the device was significantly more susceptible to screen scratches than other smartphones, iPhone 7 family included.
Verizon has re-launched sales of the device in the U.S., but no consumer delivery date has been announced.
Comments
And how on EARTH can people be foolish enough to trust a brand that was caught lying about this from the start? From how many phones were affected, to claiming none of the units shipped to China had issues (which they later had to recall too), to putting out a stupid update to limit the charging to 60%? That's basically similar to what VW was doing with their diesel engines!
I've bumped into people who have bluntly told me Samsung has done everything right and are still awesome and that they'll be getting another Note 7... At first I felt bad for people who got burnt (literally), but now I just feel like laughing at their stupidity...
Wanna bet that somebody creates a hack to do that on the recalled versions? Back to banning on planes if that happens.
There's a third choice?
I bet they still won't know the difference and continue to have them all banned. The confusion from airline employees and Galaxy users isn't worth the risk.
Plus I've heard most people aren't returning them. Sammy says "vast majority" but they're the biggest liars in the industry.
I nominate The Cult's "Fire Woman."
Samsung, carriers pushing update with safety alert ... "Buy Apple in Future"
This is one of those issue where something was designed improperly and the defect only shows up after significant use. So my parents are on their third dishwasher and third microwave in less than 5 years. The lesson people need to learn is that cheaper items are NEVER better. You may luck out and get a cheap item that is built as well as a more expensive item with a longer warranty, but that never makes the cheaper item superior.
Apple's products are well designed (for the most part) that they rarely need to be repaired, and if recalls do happen, they happen, not waiting for a class action lawsuit to force a recall. Compare the Takata airbag recall to the Volkswagen emission fuel efficiency cheating. The former has resulted in 134 injuries and two deaths, while the latter has involved no deaths but would be substantially more expensive to recall all vehicles affected and severely damaging to the brand.
I am amazed that the Carriers did not spend months testing and software update before they allowed it to be pushed out to android phone. The fact they reacted this quickly is amazing. Who said they Carriers can not respond quickly.
You all realize why the Carriers did this, they had not choose, if users continue to use defective phones and one shows up on a plane they in trouble. You can bet there will be more BOGO or BOG3 deals coming offering Samsung product the Carriers are going to make Samsung pay dearly for this mistake.
You gotta be a real special kind of stupid to trust or believe anything this company says.
Would I want one of those phones in my house, even if it were given to me for free? Hell no.
I have been using iPhone since first generation, I can update ios myself once the update is available.
Google writes update.
Manufacturer adapts update to all hardware they intend to support (stop laughing)
Carrier approves updates published by hardware manufacturer (you're still laughing! - stop it!)
Update is pushed to device.
That up there is why hardly any Android devices are ever updated, and if they ever are, almost none of them are updated for more than a year, and virtually none apart from Nexus are ever quite current.