Samsung also announced a software update for the new Note7 devices in partnership with carriers that displays a green battery icon on the phone’s status bar (in the top right portion of the screen).
Advertisement
Samsung’s USA replacement program for the Galaxy Note 7 kicked off Wednesday, giving those who purchased the phones the opportunity to swap out their recalled phones for new models that don’t have the battery linked to fires and explosions.
According to an unpublished preliminary report sent to Korea’s Agency for Technology and Standards (obtained by Bloomberg), Samsung had a manufacturing error that “placed pressure on plates contained within battery cells”, which “brought negative and positive poles into contact”.
Safety officials have urged Note 7 owners to turn off their phones and return them immediately.
In a video posted Friday, a top Samsung executive in the USA said the replacement units were safe, that the battery issue was resolved and the findings were affirmed by a recognized battery expert.
The burning Galaxy Note 7 is singeing Samsung with consumers. It had ad campaigns and regular updates of the software which added many cool features. This update should have reached affected users’ phones starting Tuesday. The company first tried to deal with the problem by initiating its own independent exchange program without government cooperation, but faced criticism from Consumer Reports and others for not initiating an official recall at that time. She was unable to say how many Note 7 buyers sought refunds, but said “the vast majority” received a different Samsung phone as a replacement.
Only 18 per cent, or less than one in five, said they would stick with the Note 7.
Advertisement
Visit www.samsung.com/us/note7recall or call us toll-free at 1-844-365-6197 to learn more. Samsung UK Mobile Vice President Conor Pierce, said, “Our absolute priority is the safety of our customers – that’s why we are asking all Galaxy Note 7 customers to act now and exchange today”.
