Samsung to cut network access for the Note 7 units still in the wild

Over a month ago, Samsung issued the final recall for the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7. Since there seems to be a real risk of explosion, most users complied and returned their units. However, it looks like some people are really in love with their phablets and simply cannot give them to be destroyed. Since Samsung wants all units returned for disposal, they are taking the recall to the next level.

The company started with a software update that limits battery charge, offered various incentives trying to get people to return their Note 7 units, and now they are taking this even further - the phablets still in use will no longer be able to access mobile networks. While the Note 7 users in the US or Europe are not affected yet, Samsung and the local carriers in New Zealand and Australia are working on this as we speak.

According to Samsung Electronics Australia, "The network discontinuation will commence from December 15 and is part of Samsung’s ongoing safety measures to recover all affected Galaxy Note7 devices." These being said, it is only a matter of time until all the Galaxy Note 7 users left will have to return their devices to Samsung or keep their devices as WiFi-only phablets that can blow up at any time.