Samsung is preparing to strike what is likely among the very final nails in the coffin for the Galaxy Note 7, the smartphone that caused a massive controversy for the South Korean company due to its exploding batteries.
The nearing end of the Galaxy Note 7 debacle will be largely welcomed by Samsung, the reputation of which was largely negatively impacted in the United States due to the issue.
Samsung To Disable Remaining Galaxy Note 7 Units
According to Yonhap News, Samsung will launch a mandatory software update within the week in South Korea that will disable the remaining units of the Galaxy Note 7 in the hands of consumers, who have been too stubborn to have the explosive smartphone replaced.
Specifically, the software update will prevent the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones from holding a charge. This will prevent customers who still have the device from using it once its current charge runs out. Customers will also not be able to use the Galaxy Note 7 unless they install the mandatory update.
Samsung claims that 97 percent of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones sold in South Korea have been returned to the company. However, the 3 percent not yet retrieved by Samsung still translate to thousands of potentially explosive devices that are still out in the streets and in homes.
It is not clear why Samsung is only releasing the update in South Korea now, but what is even more baffling is why customers are willing to hold on to a device that can potentially burst into flames, no matter how powerful its specifications and features are.
The move was already made by Samsung in the United States starting December of last year, with the update that disables charging for the Galaxy Note 7 rolled out in different dates by the carriers operating the country. Verizon initially went against Samsung's shutdown update, as it was planned to be rolled out during the height of the holiday travel season, but the company eventually succumbed and agreed to launch the update, albeit later than the other carriers.
Samsung Looks To Bounce Back From Galaxy Note 7 Fiasco
Customers who held on to their Galaxy Note 7 devices will not have to wait long before the arrival of a suitable replacement though, as Samsung is preparing to officially unveil the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus on March 29.
It has been previously reported that the Galaxy Note 7 debacle will not have as bad of an impact as previously thought on the sales of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, with the finding coming from a survey launched by marketing group Fluent. According to the results of the survey, 63 percent of current owners of Samsung smartphones will not be influenced by the exploding Galaxy Note 7 in their decision on whether or not to buy the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8 Plus.
However, the survey also found that 89 percent of current iPhone owners will purchase the next iPhone model, while a high 58 percent of current Samsung smartphone owners are thinking of buying an iPhone as their next smartphone instead of another Samsung model.
