However, because our customers’ safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have delayed sales of the Galaxy Note7 in India.
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Samsung recalled its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones after finding some of its batteries have exploded or caught fire just two weeks after the product’s launch.
On Wednesday, Samsung confirmed it had suspended shipments in South Korea of the Galaxy Note 7 to conduct additional quality tests.
Samsung didn’t say whether customers should stop using their phones, or whether explosions and fires could happen when the phone wasn’t charging.
Samsung said reservations and prepayments for the large-screen, waterproof Galaxy Note 7 were higher than for previous Galaxy phones.
“Customers can visit their local T-Mobile store where they bought the device or call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 to do this, and they can then use their refund to choose a similar device or any device in T-Moble’s stores, including a new Note7 replacement which we expect to be available in the next two weeks”.
The other option is customers can immediately swap their Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 Edge and refund will be made for the difference in cost.
Samsung said it is unloading devices from cargo shipments and plans to send back stocks already delivered overseas.
Samsung shares fell 2% in Seoul on Thursday following reports of problems with the phone during charging, and retraced less than 1% on Friday.
The official elaborated that the battery issue affecting Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 7 handset accounts for “less than 0.1 percent of the entire volume sold”, and added: “The problem can be simply resolved by changing the battery, but we’ll come up with convincing measures for our consumers”. Samsung officials said they aim to complete the recall by next year, with the possibility of an extension. Apple launched a charger trade-in program.
-Thomas Gryta in New York, Rob Taylor in Canberra, Australia, and Eva Dou in Beijing contributed to this article.
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Samsung said it was aware of 35 reports of affected Note 7 batteries, although none were in New Zealand. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that it found 35 cases in South Korea.
