Unlockable bootloader

[Droid hungry]

So some sites just ran a story saying that motorola will start doing unlockable bootloaders on all of their phones. It was on android police I think. I sure hope the bionic sees this. What do you all think?

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[Castor Troy]

Take it for what its worth but the Targa BEFORE it was changed to the Bionic was supposedly a vanilla android device with an unlocked bootloader. If they put Blur on it, it will be locked down according to the rumor.

How this pans out is anyone's guess but there you have it.


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[allan1313]

Just release the "BIARGA" with a vanilla flavor and no keys needed already.

 

[the one and only M]

"where carriers an operators allow it." I think they'll get a big, fat NOOOOO from the carriers.

 

[Castor Troy]

Just release the "BIARGA" with a vanilla flavor and no keys needed already.

They should make it more European sounding...

Motorola Biorga' (Be-or-Jha)

 

[pc747]

Take it for what its worth but the Targa BEFORE it was changed to the Bionic was supposedly a vanilla android device with an unlocked bootloader. If they put Blur on it, it will be locked down according to the rumor.

How this pans out is anyone's guess but there you have it.


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I dont know but you really think vzw will sign off on an unlocked phone. Vzw will request the locked version for their customers because "that is what they want". All you have to do is look at the pattern. Their is a reason why they wait a year after its been released to then put it on vzw, so vzw can control the product. The thunderbolt dont even have the full ability to customize scenes through sense, something that htc put in place originally to combat the need to theme. Yeah vzw will sign off on an unlocked bootloader just like they signed off on telling htc "lets not release a revamped evo to our high paying customers, just wait a few months and release that dual core device you guys have been preparing for other carriers. Vzw dont have any thing to gain by unlocking the bottloader and they dont have any thing to lose by keeping it locked as well. They have the iphone now and the people that care about unlocked bootloaders are a thorn in their side anyway. So they gambling on people either accepting it or buying a vzw iphone. Either way vzw wins.

 

[Castor Troy]

Pc747 do I think Verizon will sign off on the bootloader? Not a chance

I do want to see how this plays out before release though. The rumors will surely hit on the bootloader as it gets closer and the circus will begin. In the end I believe it will be locked whether it has blur or not.

I'm contemplating whether there will ever be a Nexus device on Verizon's network for that matter.

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[allan1313]

I don't think that VZW will ever see a Nexus device. That takes the power out of their hands.

Also they just love putting their stamp on everything. Think of all the bloatware and VZW apps that go on the phones.

 

[Droid800]

I don't think that VZW will ever see a Nexus device. That takes the power out of their hands.

Also they just love putting their stamp on everything. Think of all the bloatware and VZW apps that go on the phones.

I actually think Verizon will be pushing hard for the next Nexus, even if they have to share it with T-mobile. Verizon has a lot invested in Android, and carrying a Nexus branded device is something that would 'complete' the circle for them as far as supporting Android goes.

That, and the next Nexus will probably be a Motorola, and Verizon has single-handedly saved Motorola Mobility from oblivion thanks to the Droid series.

 

[Droid hungry]

I don't know. I don't think verizon will be quick to add a nexus since they already have their droid line. Its two big android names. But maybe I'm crazy and terribly wrong. Who knows. Its very possible, the crazy part.

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[pc747]

Pc747 do I think Verizon will sign off on the bootloader? Not a chance

I do want to see how this plays out before release though. The rumors will surely hit on the bootloader as it gets closer and the circus will begin. In the end I believe it will be locked whether it has blur or not.

I'm contemplating whether there will ever be a Nexus device on Verizon's network for that matter.

Sent from my Droid

Only way the unlocked bootloader idea will get by vzw is if they no longer encrypt it but left it locked. And left it up to the hacker to figure out how to unlock it.

 

[Castor Troy]

I don't think that VZW will ever see a Nexus device. That takes the power out of their hands.

Also they just love putting their stamp on everything. Think of all the bloatware and VZW apps that go on the phones.

Unfortunately I think you are correct.....

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[DolfanCole]

I don't know the odds of future devices being unlockable on Verizon, but I think that Motorola's statement basically puts the ball solely in Verizon's court. From what I've seen, there has been much animosity towards Motorola and their locked bootloaders, but by their statement, they're basically saying, it's not their fault anymore if it's locked. I wonder if that may loosen the reigns on Verizon as the animosity will no longer be targeted towards Motorola, but all of it will fall squarely on Verizon. Whether that actually makes a difference is another issue.

 

[SnydersWeb]

In the past I had expressed a belief that at the least to allow an unlocked bootloader VZW would likely require:

1. Signoff that they are not responsible for anything whatsoever on their phone (in short, you're on your own)
2. A tiered data plan. Lets face it, that if people have unlimited data and they tether it to their shiny 4G network - the users could easily abuse it to the point of just crushing it.

I would like to see a more "hands off" approach from VZW too.

 

[mikejs78]

The Droid Charge has an unlocked bootloader, so why wouldn't Verizon allow it on the Bionic? I think this was a Moto decision. Look:

HTC Devices: All unlocked until recently, now all locked, across carrier.
Samsung: All unlocked across all carriers.
Moto: All locked across all carriers (with the OG Droid being the notable exception).

If Moto does unlock its bootloaders, I actually suspect that Vzw will allow it, and AT&T won't, hence the "where carrier partners allow". Hell, AT&T just recently decided that sideloading was OK...

 

[Cruiserdude]

I don't see any reason VZW would force Moto to lock down their bootloader if they don't want to. VZW is primarily interested in service contracts, and getting customers to re-enroll or switch from another carrier is the way to do that. And of course, that's where the cool phones come in. I know they seem to like to have more control than other carriers, but if a manufacturer tells them a certain feature is more desirable to customers, and show them the market research to back that up (like Moto's own Facebook poll that got such an overwhelming response) I think the carrier would allow it. If they think more people will be drawn to a phone on their network because of it, that means more signed contracts and that's what its all about to them.