Samsung Under Fire Following New Galaxy Note 7 Incidents
Samsung Electronics seems to cannot have its smartphone troubles under control, following reports that replaced Galaxy Note 7 smartphones are allegedly problematic, forcing U.S. Carrier AT&T stop sales of replacement phones. Last week, authorities had to evacuate a Southwest Airlines flight in Kentucky for an incident that involved a replacement phone. The authorities said a Samsung smartphone started smoking and making "popping" noises, just moments after its owner had boarded the plane and turned off the device.
The device was a Galaxy Note 7 that he had picked up from an authorized AT&T retailer on Sept. 21, as a replacement for another Note 7 phone that he returned when Samsung announced a global recall a week earlier.
In addition, a teen in Farmington, Minnesota reports that her replacement Note 7 started burning up while it was in her hand on October 7th.
On Saturday, Michael Klering, a Kentucky resident, said his Note 7 phone also caught fire even though its battery had been replaced. Klering wrote on Facebook that he and his wife woke up because their bedroom was filling with smoke, and they feared that their children were in danger.
He said he went to a laboratory with Samsung employees where the phone was examined. But he said he doesn't feel the company is taking the situation seriously enough and wondered whether it plans to act on his report.
The Verge is reporting that another replacement Note 7 caught fire in Virginia today, October 9th.
The Chinese-language Apple Daily on Saturday reported that a Note 7 replacement phone began to smoke while a woman was walking her dog in a park in Taipei. The 26-year-old woman said she saw smoke coming from the replacement device, which she said she had picked up 10 days ago.
Samsung says it's "working diligently" with third parties to investigate, and vows that it's "taking every report seriously." It'll follow any Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved procedures as well.
"We are working diligently with authorities and third party experts and will share findings when we have completed the investigation. Even though there are a limited number of reports, we want to reassure customers that we are taking every report seriously. If we determine a product safety issue exists, Samsung will take immediate steps approved by the CPSC to resolve the situation."
But according to Reuters, Samsung Ehas already suspended production of its flagship smartphones.
In a regulatory filing, Samsung said it was "adjusting" shipments of Note 7s to allow for inspections and stronger quality control due to some devices catching fire.
AT&T has already stopped all sales of the Galaxy Note 7 over concerns about the smartphone’s safety.
"Based on recent reports, we’re no longer exchanging new Note 7s at this time, pending further investigation of these reported incidents," AT&T spokesman Fletcher Cook said in astatement on Sunday. "We still encourage customers with a recalled Note 7 to visit an AT&T location to exchange that device for another Samsung smartphone or other smartphone of their choice."
AT&T’s move is a further blow to Samsung. The wireless carrier is the third-biggest customer of the South Korean company. Samsung is already facing a bill that analysts estimate stretches into billions of dollars for the recall of 2.5 million Note 7 phones that it announced last month.
No.3 wireless carrier T-Mobile US said it was temporarily halting sales of new Note 7s as well as exchanges while Samsung investigated "multiple reports of issues" with its flagship device.
T-Mobile offered customers who brought in their Note 7s a $25 credit on their phone bill.
Australia's largest carrier, Telstra Corp, said Samsung had paused supply of new Note 7s, while fellow Australian carriers Optus and Vodafone said they had stopped issuing new Note 7s.
South Korea's two largest mobile carriers, SK Telecom and KT Corp, said they were monitoring the situation.