14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier this month, we reported that US carriers made the decision to push software updates to the Galaxy Note 7 in order to brick phones on their networks. Samsung decided to send out an OTA update on December 19 to kill Note 7 units remaining in the US.
T-Mobile was the first US carrier to schedule such an update and the company is set to issue it today. It seems that most US carriers preferred to schedule OTA updates after the holidays, not to affect users who might be traveling during this period of the year.
The US carrier will start releasing a software update carrying build number N930TUVU2APL2. The update will prevent the Galaxy Note 7 from charging and display a notification with details about the Note 7 recall. It will also show Note 7 owners the steps they would need to take in order to return the device.
Customers who bought the Note 7 from T-Mobile can still return it
Through this update, Samsung and T-Mobile aim to reduce any risks that Note 7 owners might take by keeping the phones and convince them to return the units at once. T-Mobile still accepts Galaxy Note 7 returns without charging any restocking fee.
Owners will also get bill credit and an additional $75 if they decide to switch to another Samsung phone. Customers who received a free gift when purchasing the Note 7 would be able to keep it.
The next carriers to issue software updates to kill the Note 7 are AT&T and Verizon on January 5, followed by Sprint on January 8.
Also today, Samsung announced that it changed its mind and will push similar updates in South Korea, where the exchange program might be extended until late January. Recent reports have shown that Samsung has yet to retrieve about 100,000 Note 7 units in its home country.