Samsung has voluntarily recalled about 160,000 of its Jitterbug cell phones after it was discovered that the phones could fail to connect to emergency 911 when in a no-service area.
Although Samsung said that no reports of the issue have been received to date, both Samsung and Jitterbug are directly contacting consumers to schedule a free software upgrade for the phone, which is designed for elderly customers who have difficulty using the intricate interfaces of other handsets.
The recall involves models SPH-a110 and SPH-a120 with standard keypads and version BB14 software sold after March 1, 2008. No other Samsung wireless phones or software versions are included in this recall, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In a statement, Samsung encouraged customers to visit one of its 1,400 service centers for the software upgrade, which should take about 20 minutes. Customers can also send their phones directly to Samsung to have the software updated. The phone should be returned within a week.
Jitterbug did not reply to requests for comment by press time.