Samsung Electronics Co yesterday was ordered to carry out more safety checks of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones before they go back on sale following an unprecedented global recall after defective batteries caused some of the phones to burst into flames.
Under a recall plan agreed to by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, Samsung’s battery supplier is to X-ray each lithium-ion battery intended for the Note 7 before the batteries are shipped and the company will also carry out a quality test on every battery when it arrives from the supplier.
“If there are 10 million units, all 10 million will be reviewed,” said Nam Taek-joo, an official at the government agency responsible for product safety and recalls.
Photo: Reuters
Samsung also agreed to do more for consumers who wish to ditch their Note 7s.
Consumers who missed a deadline on Monday to get a refund for their Note 7 now have until the end of the month to get an iPhone or a similar device from the same telecom in exchange for their Note 7.
The product safety agency said Samsung had also agreed to send text messages to Note 7 users who still have not exchanged their phones for new ones.
“We need more measures to actively inform consumers,” Nam said. “It appears that consumers are not actively seeking an exchange or a refund.”
Samsung did not answer e-mails seeking comment.
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