Samsung has coordinated with aviation officials around the world to set up exchange booths in "high traffic" airport terminals for owners of recalled Galaxy Note 7 smartphones (via The Verge).
The booths first appeared in South Korean airports, with similar exchange sites set to open across Australia and the U.S. for travelers to hand in the potentially dangerous devices.
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According to one reporter, a Samsung exchange desk manned by the company's staff is already operational at San Francisco's international airport.
It's now a federal crime to board a flight with a Note 7 phone, following two global recalls by Samsung that failed to stem reports of the devices setting on fire, which caused property damage and injuries. Anyone caught with a Note 7 on a plane risks facing fines and up to 10 years' imprisonment.
Samsung is said to have cut its third quarter operating profit by $2.3 billion and adjusted profit expectations from $6.9 billion to $4.6 billion, following its discontinuation of the ill-fated Note 7.
Samsung has a team of representatives at SFO to help customers with the Note7 phone. It's banned from US flights. pic.twitter.com/2IiEcg6hsU — Sergio Quintana (@svqjournalist) October 17, 2016
The company is set to overhaul its mobile strategy next year to ensure product quality, according to one report. A supply source told the Korea Herald that the company is likely to scrap its annual two-flagship models strategy in favor of focusing on a single device.
Speculation suggests that would be the Galaxy S8, expected to launch in late February 2017, although Samsung will probably shake up its marketing strategy before then, meaning the new phone could be rebranded.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Just going to leave this here.
Hard to imagine worse continual negative publicity.
Actually innovation can be risky. Could've played it safe like Apple and release the same phone for three years, but I'd rather they push the boundary.
They rushed a phone out that was still slower than last years 4.7" iPhone (and thats if you ignore the fact it explodes)...Innovation!This is a proactive move, which will instill confidence in consumers that Samsung are taking this seriously. Very good.
They've learned a sharp lesson and it will hopefully improve their products going forward.
Anyone caught with a Note 7 on a plane risks facing fines and up to 10 years' imprisonment.
Wowzer.Sounds about the right punishment for owning any Samsung phone. :p