[Aju News DB]
Samsung Electronics made a humiliating second announcement Tuesday to stop global sales and exchanges of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones equipped with replaced batteries due to replacement handsets overheating and catching fire that renewed safe concerns.
Samsung also suspended the production of its flagship smartphone. "To prioritize the safety of clients, we've decided to halt the production of Galaxy Note 7 in line with the suspension of sales," the world's largest smartphone maker said in a regulatory filing.
In an earlier announcement, Samsung said it would stop global sales and replacements of Note 7s after consulting with the state-run Korean Agency for Technology and Standards and related authorities.
"Once again, we extend our sincere apology to our clients, contractors and partners ... for causing inconvenience and concern," the company said, urging consumers to power down and turn off their Note 7 phones.
Galaxy Note 7s were put on sale on August 19, but Samsung announced a global recall on September 2 due to a series of fires caused by defective batteries.
Since Samsung's replaced phones were put back onto the shelves, at least eight cases of replaced batteries exploding were reported in the United States, Taiwan, China and South Korea. US and South Korean mobile carriers stopped sales of replaced phones.
Elliot Kaye, chairman of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, endorsed Samsung's decision as "the right move". "No one should have to be concerned their phone will endanger them, their family or their property," he said in a statement.
Kaye urged consumers who have original Note 7s or replacements to get a refund.
Samsung would automatically put off its plan to sell its new Note 7 phones on October 28 in Europe and India.
Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
