Samsung is updating Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in Europe that are still in use despite a fire risk, to prevent them being charged past 30%.
The update aims to encourage the few owners who have not yet returned the faulty devices to hand them in.Samsung issued a global recall for the Galaxy Note 7 in September following complaints about exploding batteries.
It estimates that in Europe about 10 percent of Note 7 owners have yet to return their devices.
In a statement, Samsung, which plans to begin the changes on 15 December, said the update it issued in September that limited charging capacity to 60 percent “helped to drive a high rate of return”.
“This new battery software update is specifically designed to reinforce to the remaining minority of customers to immediately replace their device,” it said.
Customers can swap their phones via local replacement programmes, it added.
Reports suggest Samsung is taking different steps in other regions to encourage people to turn in their phones.
In Canada, an update reportedly turns off all the radio communications on a phone, including phone, wi-fi and bluetooth, rendering it useless.
In the US, Samsung said it would issue an update on 19 December that would stop devices charging and “eliminate their ability to work as mobile devices”. It said about 93 percent of all faulty phones had been returned
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