AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile have started rolling out a software update to the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 that will allow users to identify the potentially hazardous device from the safe ones.
The battery explosion issue with the Galaxy Note 7 has cost money and affected the reputation of the South Korean company. Samsung had to temporarily suspend sales of the Note 7 and recall potentially dangerous phones.
Samsung acknowledged the fault in some Galaxy Note 7 batteries and recalled about 1 million units in the U.S. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also issued a statement asking Galaxy Note 7 owners not to use the phone.
Additionally, Samsung and CPSC have been working together to ensure faulty devices are exchanged for safer ones. Now AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile have started sending an update that shows a green battery indicator for safe-to-use Galaxy Note 7 units.
"Effective September 20, 2016, AT&T released a software update for the Samsung Galaxy Note7 (N930A)," says AT&T. "[The update] allows the ability to identify a recalled Note7 and a new Note7 that has been tested by Samsung and approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for consumer use."
AT&T adds that the battery indicator will remain gray after the software update has been downloaded, but it will eventually turn green after about 8 hours of first use.
The update will install automatically, and Galaxy Note 7 users cannot postpone installing the software. This is to give users who still have the faulty units a warning message to stop using their handsets.
"Your safety is our highest priority. Power down and stop using this device. The battery may overheat, posing a fire or burn risk," says the safety recall notice.
The notice will be recurring and popping up every time the potentially dangerous units are plugged into a wall outlet.
Several Galaxy Note 7 users have complained that their phablets have exploded while on charge. It is worth noting that the latest update is not meant to fix the battery issue but only to identify the safe units from the hazardous one. Users who see a warning message are encouraged to get their phones exchanged.
The software update will bring the AT&T models to build UCS2APHE, while for T-Mobile the build would be UVU2API4. The Verizon models will be brought to build VRS2APHE.
Like all OTA updates, the green battery indicator update for the Galaxy Note 7 will be rolled out in phases by individual carriers in the U.S.
