Samsung Electronics Shuts Off Battery Charging of Galaxy Note 7s in Major Countries

Samsung Electronics is shutting off battery charging of Galaxy Note 7s in major countries such as the U.S. one after the other and is making a fast approach in improving a recovery rate.

Although it does not have any immediate plans of limiting battery charging in South Korea, it is predicted that it will be inevitable in a long term. By shutting off battery charging, which is the strongest action for recovering Galaxy Note 7s, it is predicted that recovery rate will increase at a fast rate.

Samsung Electronics announced software update that shuts off battery charging of Galaxy Note 7s to consumers in the U.S. on the 19th.

When battery charging is shut off, it is impossible to use any functions of Galaxy Note 7s including making calls.

T-Mobile is going to start this update on the 27th. Verizon and AT&T will start this update on the 5th of January while Sprint will carry out this update on the 8th of January.

Although recovery rate of Galaxy Note 7s is at 90% in the U.S., Samsung Electronics and mobile network providers from the U.S. are carrying out this software update so that they can complete the process of recall as soon as possible and guarantee safety of consumers.

Beside the U.S., Samsung Electronics also shut off battery charging in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. In Europe, it has adjusted limitation of battery charging from 60% to 30%.

On the other hand, Samsung Electronics is maintaining same limitation of battery charging at 60% in Asian and Middle-Eastern countries such as South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan.

“We are focusing on increasing recovery rate of Galaxy Note 7s by end of this year.” said Samsung Electronics regarding shut-off of battery charging in South Korea. This implies that it does not have immediate plans of shutting off battery charging in South Korea and there is low chance of lowering limitation of battery charging by end of this year.

However it is predicted that Samsung Electronics will observe trend of recovery rate by end of this year and carry out appropriate actions in 2017.

When recovery rate reaches more than 90% by end of this year, there is a high chance that Samsung Electronics will limit battery charging by considering safety of people who are using Galaxy Note 7s. Currently the recovery rate is at beginning-end of 80%.

“For safety of consumers in South Korea, we are discussing with authorities and mobile network providers regarding limitation of battery charging.” said a representative for Samsung Electronics.

Mobile network providers are little hesitant about limiting battery charging of Galaxy Note 7s since inconvenience can lead to members leaving their respective network providers. However since this is directly connected to safety of consumers, mobile network providers are taking a stance that they will not reject limitation of battery charging if there are only small amount of people left that are using Galaxy Note 7s.

Staff Reporter Ham, Jihyeon | [email protected]