Produced and marketed by Samsung Electronics, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is a discontinued Android phablet smartphone. (Photo : YouTube/Watch Mojo)
Users who have not handed in their Galaxy Note 7 devices could see their units being disabled next week as an update from Samsung rolls out to a carrier in the US.
Several months after the Galaxy Note 7 started to catch fire and ultimately caused the device to be recalled and then scrapped, it appears that some customers have not given up their handsets. To make sure that all such devices are handed back to Samsung, the company has been launching a series of updates that curtail the use of the phablet.
Another update which is due roll out to customers using US Cellular on Dec. 15, is going to stop the Note 7 from charging, effectively disabling it, The Verge reported. After the customer reported the alert pertaining to the upcoming update to The Verge, and they followed up with Samsung and US Cellular no response was got from these companies.
Additionally, there is also no indication as to whether the same measure will be rolled out via other carriers in the US but it is likely to happen. If the update on Dec. 15 does stop the Note 7 from charging it will be the latest in a set of measures adopted by Samsung to force customers to turn in their handsets. Previous updates have caused the Note 7 to stop charging once it reaches 60 percent, while Samsung in Canada has cut the device off from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular networks.
Meanwhile as Samsung tries to get customers to hand in their Note 7 device it has been going full steam ahead with trying to identify the problem that caused some handsets to burst into flames. Even as results of Samsung's investigations are awaited this month a consulting company stated that the battery was just too big. After tearing down the device they found that the big battery in the Note 7 had very little room to expand as it heated up and this eventually caused chemicals within it to catch fire, Instrumental Technology reported.
As a result of the scrapping of the Note 7 this, Samsung has witnessed a huge loss. There are now reports that Apple's share of the US smartphone market has risen substantially compared to last year which is bound to put further pressure on Samsung which is its main rival.
Vital facts about the Galaxy Note 7 recall
