Samsung Electronics has already recalled its’s Note 7 smartphones due to fire-prone batteries, however, it has also come up with a temporary solution of putting a cap on battery charge of affected smartphones.
World’s biggest phone maker earlier ran an advertisement in Local Korean newspapers apologizing for a recall of Note 7, Something you would never see coming from a company that takes pride in its manufacturing quality.
Samsung now is rolling out an OTA update for its Note 7 devices that will stop them from charging above 60% capacity. This has come after the company has recalled almost all the Note 7 devices from the market after the repeated battery exploding across the globe.
Also Read : Best Phone To Buy If Your Note 7 is Getting Replaced
This global recall of 2.5 million devices has cost the Koren Tech giant almost $1 Billion. Recently, Airlines have also issued a note advising, “Passengers not to turn on or charge these devices on board aircraft and not to stow them in any checked baggage.”
Virgin Atlantic states:
“Samsung has identified some safety issues with its Galaxy Note 7 mobile phone. As a result and in line with regulatory advice, Virgin Atlantic advises all customers who intend to travel with this phone that the phone should be carried only in cabin baggage. The phone should not be charged in flight and should remain switched off for the duration. Customers who own the Galaxy Note 7 model should refer to the manufactures website for further advice.”
The new software update is expected to come out by 20th September in Korea. It remains unclear if a similar update will be released for other countries too although it seems Samsung is in talks with international carriers about the plan.
“It is a measure to put consumer safety first but we apologize for causing inconvenience,” Samsung said in a notice advertising the measure.
The software update, which will be automatic, will begin at 2 a.m. local time on Sept. 20, Samsung said in a statement.
The firm has sold 2.5 million Note 7 phones in 10 markets including South Korea and the United States that are subject to the recall. Samsung plans to begin offering replacement phones with safe batteries on Sept. 19 in South Korea.
Although, apart from the initial hiccups, Samsung needs to be commended for how it has handled the entire situation. Recalling your flagship device from global markets and bearing a loss of a billion dollars is not a small decision apart from the hit in market share when two of it’s major competitors launched their flagships, iPhone 7 and LG V20. Even this stop-gap solution of an OTA update may seem late but Samsung has not shied away from taking a responsibility rather than saying “You’re Charging it Wrong”. After all customer security is the utmost priority.
