A software update set to be released on Dec. 19 will effectively brick all remaining Samsung Galaxy Note7 devices in the US, Samsung announced on Friday. According to the official recall page, the update will “prevent U.S. Galaxy Note7 devices from charging and will eliminate their ability to work as mobile devices.”
However, Verizon in a statement indicated they will participate in Samsung’s plan to essentially shut down the remaining devices not returned.
According to Jeffrey Nelson, Vice President, Global Corporate Communications, Verizon:
“Today, Samsung announced an update to the Galaxy Note7 that would stop the smartphone from charging, rendering it useless unless attached to a power charger. Verizon will not be taking part in this update because of the added risk this could pose to Galaxy Note7 users that do not have another device to switch to. We will not push a software upgrade that will eliminate the ability for the Note7 to work as a mobile device in the heart of the holiday travel season. We do not want to make it impossible to contact family, first responders or medical professionals in an emergency situation.”
A few weeks after the initial launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note7, reports started coming in claiming that the batteries in the device could overheat and explode. Samsung released an OTA update to cap the battery life on the device and issued its own recall, before the US government stepped in and issued an additional recall.
Samsung stopped production of the device, officially, and gave users the option for a refund, or to swap it for another Samsung device. After following a complicated five-step process, most users opted to give the phone back.
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