AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile US Inc. halted the sale and exchange of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.'s Galaxy Note 7 phones following recent reports of nearly five replacement Note 7 phones catching fire or overheating, Recode reported Oct. 9, citing company statements.

Also, Sprint Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc. are allowing users to replace their Note 7 handsets with other phones.

The news comes after a replacement unit of Samsung's recalled Note 7 began emitting smoke on a Southwest Airlines flight in the U.S., leading to the evacuation of the plane's passengers and crew while the aircraft was still at the gate.