Samsung Galaxy Note7 holdouts have been having an increasingly difficult time holding onto their devices. Following the lead of New Zealand and Australia, Samsung Canada has announced that they will start to deactivate any remaining Note7 devices in the coming weeks. While they’ve noted that the return and exchange rate has been good, they are taking additional steps to ensure the safety of Note7 users and those around them.
Samsung has an interesting challenge on their hands. Users clearly love their Note7 devices, enough to continue to use them even after they’ve been recalled. The Note7 appeared to be a quality device, but battery problems plagued the device nearly from the start. With more and more countries simply disabling access on the devices, will we ever see the United States take similar steps to get these phones out of user’s hands? Airlines in the US have already taken steps to keep Note7 devices off of aircraft in the US. Southwest airlines, for example, made an announcement prior to takeoff asking any Note7 owners to hand over their phones so they could be removed from the plane.
Samsung Canada will begin rolling out updates starting on December 12th which will limit the phone’s charging capabilities as well as disabling WiFi and Bluetooth. As of December 15th, Canadian Note7 devices will no longer be able to connect to any Canadian mobile services for calls, texts, or data. After these updates are complete, Canadian Note7 phones will only be able to call 911 in the case of an emergency. You can read more about the steps being taken in Canada in the full press release below.
Are you a Note7 user in the Great White North that has held off on returning your device for some reason? Will you take it in now that it will effectively be a paperweight? Â Tell us what you think in the comment section below, or on Google+, Facebook, or Twitter.
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Full Press Release
Samsung Canada Announces Update on Return and Exchange of Note7 Devices
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 7, 2016 /CNW/ – As part of our commitment to ongoing safety, Samsung Canada would like to make our customers aware of our plans to deactivate service for remaining Note7 devices in the Canadian market. We are pleased with the return and exchange rate of Note7 devices from Canadian consumers, securing close to 90% of the Note7 devices that were brought into the Canadian market.
Functional limitations, including a limitation on the battery charge, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth disablement will be implemented as early as December 12th, 2016. Effective December 15th, 2016, customers still using the Note7 will no longer be able to connect to any Canadian mobile network services to make calls, use data or send text messages.
We strongly urge any customers still using their Note7 to return their device to the place of purchase for a refund or exchange between December 7th and December 15th. We have been in continuous communication with Note7 customers to remind them about the need to return their recalled device and will continue to communicate daily with a push notification about this network deactivation event to ensure they continue to receive adequate notice.
As a recalled product, Note7 device owners are legally prohibited from selling or even giving away the recalled device. We would like to remind customers that they need to return their Note7 device.
In the event of an emergency, Note7 devices will be able to dial 9-1-1.
