Samsung urges customers to switch off Galaxy Note 7 phones after ANOTHER explosion

SAMSUNG has urged thousands of customers to switch off their Note 7 smartphones after one of the devices exploded in an Australian hotel room.

The company's Australian wing advised the nation's 51,060 Galaxy Note 7 buyers to turn off the handsets immediately and return them to stores as a precaution in part of an unprecedented, potential billion-dollar worldwide recall.

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The tech giant also revealed it would provide free “courtesy” smartphones to Australian Galaxy Note 7 buyers from Wednesday, and would offer refunds to those unwilling to wait up to a month for a repair or replacement.

Samsung late on Monday night, recommending users backup their data and turn the potentially dangerous phones off, return them to the company, and “use an alternative device until a remedy can be provided”.

The world’s leading smartphone maker also said it was “currently investigating a small number of reported incidents” in Australia, which had yet to be confirmed as caused by faulty batteries in the Note 7 smartphone.

Melbourne business analyst Tham Hua said his Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone had shown no signs of overheating before it erupted into flames while connected to the power point beside his hotel bed on Monday.

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“It started with a fizzy noise and then a pop, and then flames and smoke came out,” Mr Hua said.

“I woke up when it popped and, when I looked, fire and smoke were pouring out from it.

“I had to throw it down to the floor and disconnect the cable, and hit it with the pillow to stop the fire.”

Mr Hua said the fire left a minor burn on his finger, as well as scorch marks on the bed sheets and carpet.

The hotel billed him $1800 for the damage, which Samsung had offered to cover.

Mr Hua said he had returned the smartphone, which he purchased directly from Samsung’s Australian online store, to the company for testing, and shared his story with News Corp in the hope it might convince others to return their Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.

“I know people (who) have the same phone and despite knowing of the recall still refuse to stop using it,” he said. “So I hope this will reach out to them.”

Samsung said it had received 35 reports of the Note 7 catching fire in South Korea, the United States, and Taiwan in the fortnight following its launch, but this could be the first case of an Australian phone fire.

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Samsung Electronics Australia mobile vice-president Richard Fink said the “voluntary” recall was issued as a precaution to protect its customers.

“The safety and ongoing satisfaction of our customers is our top priority,” Mr Fink said.

“We know our Galaxy Note 7 customers are our most loyal customers and we are taking a proactive approach to support them.

“We are asking customers to contact Samsung or their place of purchase to arrange a suitable courtesy smartphone or refund.”

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 users who purchased their phones directly from Samsung are advised to contact the company to organise a “courtesy device” or refund, with new Note 7 devices expected to be available “within three to four weeks”.

Note7 buyers who bought their phone from other stores, including phone carriers, were advised to contact them to organise interim devices, replacements or refunds.

Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone will participate in Samsung’s repair and replacement program, and Telstra will offer loan phones and the choice to swap handsets with no early termination fee.

The unprecedented worldwide recall of 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones is expected to cost more than $1 billion and will come at a difficult time for the tech firm, with rival Apple expected announce a new iPhone later this week.

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