Following Samsung’s announcement that it will soon push out a software update to disable all remaining Galaxy Note 7 phones in the US, Verizon said that it would not be releasing the update to its customers. Now the carrier has done a 180 on that position.
Verizon will release Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 update on January 5, 2017. That’s according to a FAQ on Verizon’s Galaxy Note 7 update page. Here’s the full statement from Verizon:
“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.”
Verizon previously said that it didn’t want to release an update that would disable the Note 7 because doing so could leave some customers without a line of communication during the holiday season. Now Verizon has reversed its stance, but it is waiting until after the new year so that any customers using a Note 7 will have a working phone over the holidays.
The news of Verizon’s decision is probably a bummer to anyone still using a Note 7 on Big Red’s network, but at least those folks still have a few weeks to find a replacement for their beloved phablet.
As a reminder, T-Mobile has said that it’ll release Samsung’s Note 7-killing update on December 27, AT&T will roll it out on January 5, and Sprint will release it on January 7.