It’s time to really surrender your Samsung Galaxy Note7 if you haven’t already done so.
Starting on Nov. 18, Note7 phones won’t connect to cellular networks…in New Zealand, according to a notice posted on Samsung New Zealand’s website.
Devices will not be able to “make calls, use data or send SMS messages.” Samsung says it’ll be contacting customers from now until Nov. 18 with info on the service disconnection to allow proper time for them to return and replace their defective phones.
Mashable has reached out to Samsung Electronics America to see if the company is planning a similar initiative in the U.S.
Blocking access to cellular networks is the latest move by the Korean electronics giant to force customers — some of whom are defiantly unafraid of their devices blowing up — into complying with its global recall of the Note7 after launch devices and replacements started catching on fire.
New Zealand customers who absolutely refuse to give up their Note7s, obviously, run the risk of the phones inexplicably combusting.
But they won’t be total bricks. Though they won’t be able to connect to cellular networks in New Zealand, they should still be able to work with networks in other countries (not that you’d be able to legally transport them by air since they’re banned from all major airlines) and connect to Wi-Fi networks.
And, of course, the phones will still work as cameras and music players.
At this point, though, the only reason anyone should keep the Note7 is as collectible. And even then, you’ll probably want to keep it in a fireproof box just to be on the safe side.
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