Samsung Urges Public to Stop Using Galaxy Note 7
After several reports of handset explosion even after international recall, Samsung urges the public not to use Galaxy Note 7 and immediately ask for replacement.
In a statement released on Saturday, Samsung's mobile president Koh Dong-jin said "We are asking users to power down their Galaxy Note 7s and exchange them as soon as possible."
"We are expediting replacement devices so that they can be provided through the exchange program as conveniently as possible," he added."
Samsung made rental phones available at the service centers that users can use temporarily. Starting Sept. 19, new batteries for the model will be available in South Korea, However, date of availability will vary in other countries, Fox News reported.
The Guardian reported that Samsung would perform remote deactivation starting on Sept. 30 for users who would not follow the recommendations of the company. Unofficial reports state that affected handsets will be bricked.
The safety commission has already permitted that United States Federal Aviation Administration to stop passengers from bringing the handset inside planes.
Last Saturday, the Scadivanian Airlines also banned passengers from using the model during flights to prevent fires. Likewise, Singapore Airlines prohibited passengers from charging Galaxy Note 7 handsets on flights.
Earlier on September, the Seoul-based company announced the international recall of 2.5 million units of Galaxy Note 7. The model was only out in the market for two weeks but was pulled out after the company completed its investigation on reports of explosion and fires caused by the rechargeable lithium batteries.
South Korea and the U.S. were among the first nations to respond to the issue of recall. In Sept. 9, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advised owners to turn handsets off.
As of Sept.1, the number of confirmed cases of fire and explosion caused by the handset totalled to 35 already. Most of these cases occur during battery charging.
Samsung is also aware of the two latest cases in a hotel in Perth, Australia and St. Petersburg, Florida where a jeep was set on fire after the owner left his handset charging inside the car.
Last Saturday, a six year old New York suffered from burns in his body after the handset set fire while playing video games. The user's grandmother said, "He doesn't want to see or go near any phones. He's been crying to his mother."
Since the recall, the market share of the company has significantly shrunken.
