Following a similar move in New Zealand, Samsung is working with mobile carriers in Australia to shut down network access from all Note 7 devices. This, of course, is a move on Samsung’s part to try to get all of the fire-prone devices out of the wild to avoid any more potentially dangerous situations.
The process, which is being referred to as “network discontinuation,” will begin on December 15th and essentially means that anyone using a Note 7 will be unable to send texts, make calls, and use data.
In a statement to The Australian, Samsung reiterated that users need to power down and return their device immediately:
“Samsung Australia urges any customer still using their Galaxy Note 7 to power down and return their device to the place of purchase for a refund or replacement immediately,” the company said in a statement.
Additionally, Samsung is offering a few additional incentives to move customers away from the Note 7. For one, the company is offering to exchange customers’ phones for either a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Note. Samsung will also refund the price difference between the phones and offer users AU$250 worth of credit either towards their carrier or the retailer where they bought it. These offers end on December 22nd.
The move in Australia comes as Samsung is working to get the Note 7 entirely out of the hands of consumers. In addition to the carrier network efforts in Australia and New Zealand, Samsung also recently pushed a software update to limit the battery charge of the device. The company has said that there are a “small number” of the devices still out in the wild.
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