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Samsung's Calls For Industry To Embrace Its Battery Check Process as a New Standard Have Been Ignored (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the collective-shrug dept.

Months after the Galaxy Note 7 debacle, the topic remains too hot for the rest of the wireless industry to handle. From a report on CNET: With Samsung's Galaxy S8 to launch next week, a renewed discussion of the Note 7, which had an unhealthy tendency to catch fire and which had to be recalled, is inevitable. Samsung opened that door in January when it embarked on a mea culpa tour. Beyond spelling out the cause of the overheating problem in its popular phone, the company unveiled an eight-point battery check system it said surpassed industry practices, and it invited rivals to follow its model. But two months after the introduction, what's the industry response? A collective shrug. Interviews with phone makers and carriers found that while all placed a high priority on safety, few would talk specifically about Samsung's new battery check process or the idea of adopting it for themselves.

8 of 51 comments (clear)

  1. We place a high priority on battery safety by DickBreath · · Score: 2

    Mobile phone manufacturers place a high priority on battery safety, as long as they don't have to actually do anything about safety. Especially if it costs any money. Or doesn't allow phones to continue their evolution towards paper thin.

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    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
    1. Re:We place a high priority on battery safety by hij · · Score: 2
      Not only that, but it is kind of shocking that other companies do not want to go to every rooftop and shout out how they are on par with Samsung with respect to battery safety.

      "Hey everybody, our batteries meet Samsung's safety standards!"

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      Believe nothing -- Buddha
    2. Re:We place a high priority on battery safety by Tharkkun · · Score: 2

      Not only that, but it is kind of shocking that other companies do not want to go to every rooftop and shout out how they are on par with Samsung with respect to battery safety.

      "Hey everybody, our batteries meet Samsung's safety standards!"

      Except it was Samsung that had battery issues, not the other companies. Agreeing to use a new battery check process would admit that there's fault in their testing process which there wasn't. Samsung will try to make this appear like other companies are ignoring the issue when Samsung had the major recall.

    3. Re:We place a high priority on battery safety by Torp · · Score: 2

      You're giving a serious answer to a sarcastic post you know...

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      I apologize for the lack of a signature.
  2. So far the phone mfg with a public problem.. by Junta · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is Samsung. They are talking *loud* about something they purport to be a super better thing. It would help their narrative if they make it sound like all the competitors are ready to fail at any moment.

    So the competitors going along with it and making it look like Samsung is *leading* in battery safety would just play into Samsung's hands.

    In terms of the actual relative merit, who knows, but from a perspective of marketable storytelling, it is very much not in the interest of Samsung's competitors to play up Samsung's process. If there is merit that their competitors are told about and recognize, expect them to silently improve their process, but in no way publicize that fact.

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    XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
    1. Re:So far the phone mfg with a public problem.. by the_B0fh · · Score: 2

      You mean, something like UL safety testing? All the batteries were safe to use, *IF* used properly.

      Samsung squeezed a slightly too big battery into a slightly too small battery compartment.

      No amount of independent battery testing will find that problem. The problem is in the design. Nothing to do with battery.

  3. Re:Simple explanation by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

    Since Samsung also manufactures its own batteries, they have to up their game. It's not just about smartphones, it's also about their own 2170/21700 batteries going head-to-head with Tesla/Panasonic.

    If they can't give proof that they're being extra-careful, nobody's going to want electric cars with Samsung batteries in them, which in turn means electric car manufacturers won't buy Samsung batteries.

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    #DeleteFacebook
  4. Re:Because everybody by freeze128 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes. Everybody *SHOULD* listen to Samsung about batteries, because Samsung suffered a HUGE SETBACK with the exploding phones, and therefore are committed to that NEVER HAPPENING AGAIN! They cannot allow it. They cannot afford it.

    If Samsung implements their battery check procedure, do you think they will ever having a problem with exploding phone batteries again? I don't think they will.