The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 may face a discontinuation following reports of its exploding batteries. What might be the last straw is the recent "safe" Note 7 fiasco in a Southwest flight. Should the South Korean company accept defeat and discontinue their flagship tablet just months after it was launched?
According to Fortune, it is time for Samsung to seriously consider permanently terminate the sales of the Note 7. This is if the phablet that went up in smoke in the plane is proved to be a replacement unit, which the tech giant has deemed to be safe.
Samsung Note 7 To Be Recalled Again?
Some reports suggest that Samsung might issue a second recall of their Note 7, but it may be better to discontinue the product altogether, according to a statement from Mark Johnson, a Warwick Business School associate professor of operations management.
"Samsung may now be stuck with an expensive and reputation denting second recall," Johnson said. "Having a second recall will be costly and may result in the electronics giant canceling the phone. The latest in a long line of incidents affecting the Samsung Note 7 indicates that there may be much more at fault with the phone than just faulty batteries from a supplier."
AT&T To Take The First Step
According to Bloomberg, U.S. mobile carrier AT&T is already considering to stop selling Note 7. The sources cited in the report claimed that they are concerned over the safety of the phablet and the risks it might pose to customers.
AT&T, along with other carriers in the U.S., is already offering to refund or replace their customers' Note 7. It is unknown at this point how many have actually traded in their Samsung phablet over a different phone.
They will have reached a decision by Friday. More news is expected by then. If one of the biggest U.S. carriers does decide to cut off sales of the Note 7, the others might copy, which may ultimately make Samsung to follow suit.
