Verizon Will Kill The Galaxy Note 7 On January 5

Verizon has apparently changed its mind, and now states that it will release an update that disables the Galaxy Note 7's ability to charge on January 5, 2017. This follows previous statements to the contrary, with Verizon initially declining to send Samsung's update on to customers. Though the carrier reversed its decision regarding the update, the reasons Verizon gives for the January date are staying the same.

Verizon had originally said it wouldn't release the update to disable Samsung's doomed handset because doing so could leave its customers stranded during the busy holiday travel season. That's the same reason it gives now for choosing to release the update on January 5, 2017 rather than on December 19 when Samsung releases the update. The company's FAQ state:

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.

Once the update is released, any Galaxy Note 7 devices remaining on Verizon's network will no longer be able to charge, obviously meaning whatever battery life remains at the time of the update is all you'll have left to use (unless you put it in airplane mode and never update it, of course). It's disappointing news for those who hoped to continue using their Samsung device, but it's ultimately the responsible choice in light of the battery troubles.

SOURCE: Verizon