Verizon has decided to support Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 update that will render the smartphones useless, but not until after the holiday season. (The carrier originally announced it would not allow the update to be pushed to its customers.)
Samsung will be releasing a Note7 software update on December 19. This update prevents the device from charging and eliminates the ability for it to work as a mobile device.
Verizon will not be pushing this software update to your device until January 5, 2017. We want to make sure you can contact family, first responders, and emergency medical professionals during the holiday travel season.
However, we urge you to stop using your Note7, upgrade it to another device, and return the Note7 to us.
The carrier originally announced it would not roll out the update “because of the added risk this could pose to Galaxy Note7 users that do not have another device to switch to.” The update will turn off the device’s ability to recharge, causing it to be useless once its current charge depletes.
This means Verizon will fall into line with the other big four U.S. wireless carriers, who are rolling out the update at various times in the next month or so. T-Mobile will push the update on December 27, AT&T on January 5, and Sprint on January 8.
