A US government safety agency has urged all consumers to stop using Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones due to fire risk.<br /><br /> The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said it was working on an official federal recall of the devices and urged users to turn them off in the meantime.<br /><br /> It follows reports that the phone’s batteries have combusted during charging and normal use.<br /><br /> U.S. tells consumers to stop using fire-prone Samsung phones https://t.co/yMVBqWd7r3 pic.twitter.com/RogL1Mv5mk— Reuters UK (@ReutersUK) September 10, 2016<br /><br /> South Korea<br /><br /> Samsung has asked South Korean customers to stop using the Galaxy Note 7.<br /><br /> The tech company says it is recalling the phone due to faulty batteries which are prone to catching fire.<br /><br /> What does this mean for Samsung?<br /><br /> The US government action heralds more fallout for the South Korean manufacturer. <br /><br /> Commentators say the company, which prides itself on its manufacturing prowess, may take a financial hit from the recall and lose customers who are concerned about the quality of the flagship device.<br /><br /> Samsung has asked customers to turn off their Note 7 phones immediately.<br /><br /> Last week, the company voluntarily issued an unprecedented recall for 10 markets, including South Korea and the US.<br /><br /> The scale of the recall is expected to be unprecedented. An estimated 2.5 million of the devices have been sold worldwide. <br /><br /> Samsung shares closed down 3.9 percent on Friday.<br /><br /> What can users do?<br /><br /> Samsung says users in the US can exchange their phones for one of several models and get a 25 dollar gift card.<br /><br /> In a statement posted online, the company says it will also offer rental phones to customers who hand in their Galaxy Note 7.<br /><br /> It says it plans to have devices with a safe battery ready to give customers affected by the recall starting on September 19.<br /><br /> Hundreds of Samsung Galaxy Note7 owners here express unhappiness over exchange programme https://t.co/Gj4c1LLPGA pic.twitter.com/m3LGP7eTZ4— The Straits Times (@STcom) September 10, 2016<br /><br /> Global airline ban<br /><br /> Aviation authorities and airlines from North America to Europe and Asia have issued bans or guidance on the phones.<br /><br /> FAA Statement on Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Devices https://t.co/NADpT5Jma4 pic.twitter.com/e9uJvNmUUq— The FAA (@FAANews) September 8, 2016<br /><br /> On Thursday, the US Federal Aviation Administration said travellers should not use or charge them while in the air, or stow them in checked luggage.<br /><br /> That prompted the world’s three largest airlines (by passenger traffic) – American, Delta and United – to tell passengers at the gate and on board aircraft to keep the phones switched off until they are off the aircraft.<br /><br /> Companies ranging from Singapore Airlines and Qantas Airways to Air France KLM have brought in similar bans.<br /><br /> Flying is typically a high-use environment for the devices, experts say.<br /><br /> The use of lithium-ion batteries<br /><br /> The airline industry is trying to manage the use of lithium-ion batteries.<br /><br /> They are used in many devices from phon
