Samsung urges consumers globally to stop using Galaxy Note 7

Seoul, Sep 11 (AP) Samsung Electronics is urging consumersworldwide to stop using Galaxy Note 7 smartphones immediatelyand exchange them as soon as possible, as more reports of thephones catching fire emerged even after the company’s globalrecall. The call from the South Korean company, the world’slargest smartphone maker, comes after US authorities urgedusers to switch the Galaxy Note 7 off and not to use or chargeit during a flight. Several airlines around the world asked travellers notswitch on the jumbo smartphone or put it in checked baggage,with some carriers banning the phone on flights. In a statement posted yesterday on its website, Samsungasked users around the world to "immediately" return theirexisting Galaxy Note 7 and get a replacement. "We are asking users to power down their Galaxy Note 7sand exchange them as soon as possible," said Koh Dong-jin,Samsung’s mobile president. "We are expediting replacementdevices so that they can be provided through the exchangeprogram as conveniently as possible." Consumers can visit Samsung’s service centers to receiverental phones for temporary use. Samsung plans to provideGalaxy Note 7 devices with new batteries in South Koreastarting Sept. 19, but schedules for other countries vary. Earlier this month, Samsung announced an unprecedentedrecall of 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7s worldwide just two weeksafter the phone was launched. That move came after Samsung’sinvestigation into reports of fires found that rechargeablelithium batteries manufactured by one of its suppliers were atfault. The US was among the first countries to take a stepfollowing the recall. Late Friday, the US Consumer ProductSafety Commission urged owners of the phone to turn them offand leave them off. It also said it was working with Samsungand hoped to have an official recall "as soon as possible." The recall by the safety commission will allow the USFederal Aviation Administration to ban passengers fromcarrying the phones on planes. The FAA already warned airline passengers late Thursdaynot to turn on or charge the Galaxy Note 7 during flights andnot to put the smartphone in their checked bags. Scandinavian Airlines said yesterday that it hasprohibited passengers from using the Galaxy Note 7 on itsflights because of concerns about fires. Singapore Airlineshas also banned the use or charging of the device duringflights. Samsung released the Galaxy Note 7 on August 19. TheGalaxy Note series is one of the most expensive lineups madeby Samsung.(AP)ABH