Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Will be Disabled After All

BY Evan Selleck

Published 15 Dec 2016

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Earlier this month, Samsung confirmed that it would be disabling Galaxy Note 7 units out in the wild in the United States in early January.

Soon after, a variety of different wireless carriers in the U.S. sent out official statements confirming that their branded units would be disabled, too, as part of the sweep. However, Verizon Wireless cited holiday travel, and not wanting to leave people without devices, as a reason not to send out the disabling update.

The Big Red carrier has since changed its tune, though. Verizon has confirmed that it will indeed send out the disabling update to the Galaxy Note 7, like the other wireless carriers, in early January of next year.

Specifically, the update will be released on January 5, 2017:

“Samsung will be releasing a Note7 software update on December 19. This update prevents the device from charging and eliminates the ability for it to work as a mobile device.

Verizon will not be pushing this software update to your device until January 5, 2017. We want to make sure you can contact family, first responders, and emergency medical professionals during the holiday travel season.

However, we urge you to stop using your Note7, upgrade it to another device, and return the Note7 to us.”

If you have exchanged your Galaxy Note 7, what phone did you go with as a replacement?

[via Droid-Life; Verizon Wireless]