Samsung recently confirmed that it will be rolling out an update starting Dec. 19 that will disable charging for the explosive Galaxy Note 7, effectively shutting down units of the smartphone that are still out in the wild for good.
The update will look to be the final nail in the coffin for the 133,000 units of the Galaxy Note 7 in the United States that have not yet been returned by their owners. T-Mobile will be the first carrier to launch the update on Dec. 27, followed by AT&T on Jan. 5 and Sprint on Jan. 8 next year.
Verizon, however, has initially refused to take part in the shutdown update, claiming that it will not do so in the heart of the holiday travel season as subscribers still using the Galaxy Note 7 might need the smartphone in case of emergency situations. There were no indications on whether Verizon is planning to launch the update much later than the other carriers, or if the company was not participating in the rollout of the update at all.
Verizon Backtracks, Sets Release Date For Galaxy Note 7 Final Update
It seems that Verizon has now changed its mind on launching what would be the final software update for the Galaxy Note 7, setting a release date of Jan. 5 next year. Verizon will now be launching the update alongside AT&T.
According to the Galaxy Note 7 recall page on Verizon's official website, the carrier has chosen Jan. 5 as the day for the release of the update so that subscribers still using the Galaxy Note 7 would be able to contact family, first responders and medical professionals in case an emergency arises during the holiday travel season.
Verizon, however, still recommends Galaxy Note 7 owners to stop using the smartphone and send it back to the company to have it replaced.
Galaxy Note 7 Recall Finally Coming To An End
Verizon made a controversial move when it initially refused to roll out the update that will permanently shut down the Galaxy Note 7. However, with the carrier's decision to also release the update, the recall program for the explosive Galaxy Note 7 could finally soon be coming to an end.
After Sprint rolls out the last of the planned updates on Jan. 8, the date could then be marked as the official end of the Galaxy Note 7's turbulent life in the United States, allowing Samsung to move ahead with its research into how to prevent explosive batteries in the future and to mend its battered image.
