If you own a Galaxy Note 7 by Samsung Electronics (SSNLF), be prepared to lose some of the device's most important functions. (Related: Samsung's Absurd History: From Fish to Riches to Shame)
The South Korean tech giant will reportedly issue an update as soon as next week that will disable call functionality and prevent the recalled device from charging, among other restrictions. Earlier this week, The Verge obtained an image of a message purportedly to be one that Samsung sent to a Note 7 user who happened to be on U.S. Cellular carrier.
The message stated that, “As of December 15th, Samsung will modify the software to prevent the Galaxy Note 7 from charging. The phone will no longer work.”
Samsung, which began limiting Note 7s in the U.S. last month, hasn't confirmed its plans to highjack phones. But if this rumor is true, the embattled company is taking drastic measures to get back the recalled devices, which have suffered exploding batteries since its launch during the summer. Though neither Samsung or U.S. Cellular responded to The Verge's request for comment, it's hard to argue that Samsung is at least considering the idea.
The question is, how much backlash will Samsung suffer from? And if it does push the disabling feature updates to U.S. Cellular customers, will it do the same to customers on the "big four" carriers: Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), AT&T, Inc. (T), T-Mobile USA, Inc. (TMUS) and Sprint Corporation (S)? The Verge noted that Samsung has in the past pushed out similar updates to such carriers, which has taken only a few days.
The Verge reported that even more severe measures by Samsung were taken this week. In Canada the company has made the Note 7 phones almost useless. Beyond restricting calling and charging capability, the company has also disabled Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functions as well. In other words, the Note 7, which can't even stream Netflix, becomes an expensive paperweight.
But customers aren't being completely left out of options. Samsung, despite its drastic measures, is still offering Note 7 owners the ability to return the phone for a refund or exchange it for another Samsung product. It's a calculated move: Samsung prefers the backlash from Note 7 owners than risk paying for injury or property damage.
