If your reading this I am sure that you have already read the articles and posts from HTC about future phones will have unlocked bootloaders. With very good reason many are still skeptical, as well as unsure of exactly what this means or how it well be done. Most of us are in agreement that the Nexus line solution of lock unlock is the best way to approach this as it still keeps it locked and protects the people that don't care and or are most worried about security, yet still allows tech savvy to unlock the bootloader and customize or update their own device as they see fit.
How ever the big question really seems to be, Can the Manufacturers do this?
This is where i would like to weigh in, I have read the Wired article where Koush talks about his take on the announcement and states “They don’t control what ships on their phones, carriers do.” First off let me state that I can not agree with him more, I have even seen a few documents i was not intended to see indicating these exact requirements by carriers *cough At& Cough* . However as you can imagine I did not decide to log in and blog with out my own rant and take on this.
I am here to state with 100% certainty that it does not have to be this way, there is a choice and carriers do not have to have all the power we give them in the U.S. I will start by illustrating my point with an example, I own a retail location, one that services young adults and one of the items we sell is alcohol, about a year ago a product flew through the area it was suppose to prevent hangovers it was packaged just like 5-hour energy. Now this product as anyone with common sense would know is a complete sham, it obviously didn't work, however it was being pushed extremely hard by distributers in the area and was also doing a lot of local promotion. I, being the owner of the establishment refused to allow the product into my store, simply put I told them that I did not wish to sell a false product and take peoples money selling B.S. because thats not who I am. Just like that I stayed strong week after week, even with other similar establishments selling large quantities of these items. However I finally cracked, I didn't crack because I changed my mind on the product, I didn't crack because money motivated me to no longer care, I cracked because of the pressure of the customers (idiots or not), they wanted the product, you couldn't talk them out of it, or tell them you were helping them out and saving them money. People just wanted this wonder shot. (very much like iphone users, :-P sorry couldn't resist) Now sure enough this product was a fad, everyone finally figured out it didn't work and that they were wasting $4.00 everyday they drank for nothing and it left as quickly as it came only a few months after its market introduction.
*ok nice story, but that has nothing to do with Carriers and unlocked bootloaders *
Thats just the thing it does, see if HTC, Motorola, Sony, etc are feeling the pressure from consumers and want to start selling all there android phones with unlocked bootloaders, thats is simply all they have to do, the key is not bending. If HTC really does adapt this new policy, and refuses to lock and encrypt the bootloader of their new model phones, Koush is right At&t will first say well Forget you, not on our network but just like me their faith is already sealed, its only a matter of how long not if. People will want HTC unlocked phones and they will get them, naturally one network (as of a recent announcement currently appears to be Verizon) will jump out immediately recognizing an opportunity to attract customers, and say hay come here we have your unlocked phones and we support the modding community. now just like me this may not be enough to get At&t to jump, how ever over time as their portfolio of phones shrink along with there customer base, and every 10th person in the door is looking for a HTC phone because their friend has one and they liked it, THEY WILL BREAK!! See there is nothing worse than constantly having customers ask for something you cant provide, it doesn't matter what it is, if suddenly every 10th person in my door was asking about granny panties, I would eventually stock them, regardless of money or motive or personal bias, if for no other reason you just want to shut people up!! Now the best thing is its not just HTC, Sony, & Samsung seem to be on board, with Motorola blowing smoke but saying they are. So what will carriers do? They need phones, and they need the latest tech and OS's they can not just ban manufacturers because they need them just as much as manufacturers need carriers, probably more because lets face it I know I would not be upset to start buying phones direct and stop having contracts (I have done it for 5 years, until the Atrix :-( ) Even if that did happen, that is honestly what needs to happen in this country any how we need to take the power away from the carriers like in Europe and around the world. We need to remind them that we the people own the spectrum, not them, they just rent it. What happens when you piss off your landlord? Well you get kicked the ____ out.
Am I over simplifying this ? Yes, but it really is not any where near as difficult as people are making it out to be. HTC heard us and are taking the leap of faith, it is up to us to support them and to make sure what was described above comes true. We all know what a great job HTC does in making phones, so if they unlock them than make sure your next phone is an HTC regardless of carrier, think about it how long do you keep your phone before switching anyhow ? I know that I own or have purchased a ton of devices in the last 3 years, the most important thing in society that we dont do enough of in this country is support the companies that listen, and do not purchase ANYTHING from the ones that don't. Don't shop at the store owned by a jerk, dont buy gas from BP, don't shop at the Walmart that just put all of your corner store out of business. U.S. Citizens wake up and realize that we do have choices, our votes do count, and we can change the present for a better future !!!
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