T-Mobile and AT&T to stall exchanges of Samsung Galaxy Note 7, pending investigations

  18 Oct 2016 , 11:31

US telecommunications firm AT&T and German rival T-Mobile announced Sunday they would halt exchanges of recalled Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphones pending investigations into reports of fire-prone batteries.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall on September 15 of the Galaxy Note 7, the newest smartphone by Samsung Electronics, and said they could be exchanged for a new version of the Galaxy Note 7 with a battery modified to prevent serious fires and burns.

Since then, there have been reports that the batteries in the new Galaxy Note 7 devices have overheated and been involved in fires.

“Based upon recent customer reports and ongoing investigations by Samsung, AT&T is no longer exchanging customers into new Galaxy Note 7s at this time while we wait for the outcome of the investigations,” AT&T said in a statement.

AT&T said it would still offer customers the option to exchange that device for another Samsung smartphone or other device of their choice.

T-Mobile said that it too was halting the exchanges, as well as sales.

“While Samsung investigates multiple reports of issues, T-Mobile is temporarily suspending all sales of the new Galaxy Note 7 and exchanges for replacement Galaxy Note 7 devices,” the company said in a statement.

AT&T said it had not been selling Galaxy Note 7s since Samsung and the CPSC instructed the company to stop selling Galaxy Note 7 devices purchased before September 15.

Samsung decided on September 2 to halt the sale of the Galaxy Note 7 and

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is dead: How Indian consumers are responding to it

A burnt Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in an aircraft

By Naina Khedekar /  13 Oct 2016 , 18:01

As much as Samsung may have hoped, the Galaxy Note 7 won’t really ‘brighten’ up your Diwali. The company tried re-launching the once-celebrated Note 7, but looks like there is no respite for Samsung as the units with replaced batteries began bursting into flames.

So, Samsung has started a total recall. It has begun recalling all its devices, and is also known to be sending special fire-resistant boxes to ensure there aren’t anymore mishaps, and is ready to give refunds. All in all, Samsung’s Note 7 is dead. This fiasco is believed to burn a $17 billion hole in its pocket, but that’s too little compared to the loss of reputation the company may suffer.

While the company has begun taking all necessary precautions elsewhere, the situation is different in India, as it wasn’t officially released here.

There is a high probability of consumers picking up the Note 7 abroad and are now stuck with it.

We wonder how Samsung plans to process with refunds, or rather ensure the device is recalled safely. Moreover, we haven’t heard of a fire-proof box for India yet.

Grey markets with stocking Note 7

Another area of concern is that in the grey market, the Note 7 is still available. Some shop keepers in Mumbai are offering mixed responses. One vendor we spoke to said he still has the Note 7 in stock at Rs 56,000 and promises that it comes with the replaced battery. It didn’t sound like he was aware of the recall by Samsung.

Some others said that they never had the device in stock. In Delhi though, a source said the device isn’t available but ‘can be made available’ for Rs 58,000. While another vendor said it is available for Rs 56,000.

Shop keepers in India’s grey market still stocking Note 7 is a cause for worry.

What about customers who pre-booked Note 7?

Email from Samsung store regarding the refund of the pre-booking amount for Galaxy Note 7

Samsung had officially launched the Note 7 on 11 August at Rs 59,900. It was open for pre-orders. For those who pre-booked the device, Samsung India sent out an email apologising for the delay, alongside a few SMS acknowledgements promising to make up for the delay with free VR headset and apps.

With the re-launch plans, 28 October was supposed to be the release date of the Galaxy Note 7 for India market, just ahead of Diwali. However, there were many who opted to walk out on their beloved device and had begun asking for refund.

While Samsung is promising timely refunds elsewhere, it could be simply ignoring its biggest smartphone market – India. Or at least some users believe so, who have seen no sign of the refund, which would ideally takes only 5-7 days if the transcation was made through a debit card.

Now, along with the recall, non-timely refunds could only rupture Samsung’s reputation in India further.

(Oooh) 🚧🚧Samsung Galaxy Note 7 problems far from over; a ‘safe’ replaced device explodes on a US flight

By tech2 News Staff /  06 Oct 2016 , 11:11

Samsung is just not able to live down the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco. Replacement devices have only just started reaching customer’s hands and it looks like they’ve already started blowing up.

Brain Green got his Note 7 replaced on 21 September at an AT&T store. The phone’s box had the black square that marks a replacement, safe, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 device and Green also claims that his device showed the green battery icon that is also meant to be an indicator of a safe device.

At the request of flight attendants, Green turned off the device and put it in his pocket when it began to smoke. Green dropped the phone to the floor of the aircraft and flight attendants immediately evacuated the plane.

Green’s burnt Galaxy Note 7

The Verge and Reuters independently confirmed the story. The Verge also got their hands on images which confirm the presence of the black mark on the packaging. They also verified the phone’s IMEI number with