Galaxy Note 7 Recall: T-Mobile Becomes First Major Carrier To Release Upate That Shuts Down Remaining Devices

The last of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices that are still online are about to meet their end. T-Mobile became the first major carrier in the United States to roll out an update that will shut down the handsets that have been reported to explode, according to a report from Android Authority.

The update, which bears the version number N930TUVU2APL2, is officially available to owners of the Galaxy Note 7 on the T-Mobile network. Once installed, the update will offer an on-screen reminder about the recall of the device and will provide steps as to how they can comply with the recall process.

It will also implement a feature that will prevent the device from being charged, essentially locking it up and making sure the device is permanently shut down.

The plan to intentionally brick the last of the living Galaxy Note 7s was announced earlier this month following a text message sent to US Cellular subscribers noting a software update would be pushed to the devices to prevent them from working.

Samsung previously reported about 85 percent of the active Galaxy Note 7 handsets had been recovered through its recall process, leaving several hundred thousand still active and at risk of explosion.

At the time of the initial announcement that Samsung would kill the last of the remaining Galaxy Note 7 handsets, Verizon announced that it would refuse the update, citing concerns it would leave users of the phone without a means of contact during the holiday season.

Verizon has since reversed course on this refusal, instead agreeing to push the phone-killing update after the holidays. The largest carrier in the U.S. will issue the update starting Jan. 5, 2017.

Verizon will be joined by AT&T, which will also start offering an update to brick the Galaxy Note 7 on Jan. 5. Sprint will follow suit shortly after, making the update available on Jan. 8, 2017.

Devices in Canada underwent a similar update that shut off all connectivity of the device, essentially rendering them useless.

These updates from the largest carriers in the U.S. should spell an end to the Galaxy Note 7, which has been plagued with issues—most notably its tendency to explode. Dozens of reports indicated the device would burst into flames, landing the device a ban from airlines in the U.S. and across the world.

The issue led to a recall of the devices, which cost Samsung more than $5 billion. A full investigation into the cause of the explosions is expected to be completed by the end of the year.