It was one of the biggest product safety failures in tech history.<br /><br /> And now smartphone giant Samsung says faulty batteries – from two different suppliers – caused its flagship Galaxy Note 7 to catch fire. <br /><br /> The rival to Apple’s iPhone was withdrawn from sale last October, less than two months after its launch. <br /><br /> It comes after a recall was followed by reports of replacement devices also catching fire.<br /><br /> Samsung says tests show batteries to blame for fire-prone Note 7s. https://t.co/woA9uizkI0— The Associated Press (@AP) 23 janvier 2017<br /><br /> The South Korean tech giant has ruled out problems with the device’s hardware and software. It gave details of the battery trouble in a statement.<br /><br /> Samsung is now eager to rebuild trust. <br /><br /> “Taking this incident as an opportunity, we have strengthened our determination,” Samsung’s mobile chief Koh Dong-jin told reporters in Seoul on Monday.<br /><br /> “From now on, we will give product quality and customer safety top priority.” <br /><br /> Images of melted Samsung devices spread on social media and airlines banned travellers from carrying them on flights. The product failure wiped more than $5 billion off operating profits.<br /><br /> .@samsung blames faulty batteries for the fires that led to the recall of its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device. https://t.co/Kj8SCVuXyK #9News pic.twitter.com/fWvk0bT3LH— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) 23 janvier 2017<br /><br /> Eager to enhance product safety, Samsung has now indicated that the launch of its new Galaxy S8 smartphone could be delayed.<br /><br /> It will not be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show in Barcelona, which begins on Feb. 27, the traditional forum for Samsung premium product launches. <br /><br /> with Reuters<br />
