BREAKING: Motorola Unlocks Your Device Via "Unlock My Device"

[syndicate0017]

It's not the unlocked bootloader that is modifying manufacturer specs. It's the part that happens after you unlock. If you install a different OS with a different kernel you have modified the specs.

Installing an app does not modify phone function. Apps function over the OS and hardware specs. They add functionality but don't modify the actual phone.

You're not douchey but it's obvious you understand what they mean by modifying the phone. You're looking for a loophole but it's there in the contract.

And even if it wasn't there's that little part of the agreement that says they can terminate for any reason.

The only way Verizon is going to change their mind is if they see money leaving.

Interesting...so they can void your service for something you might do?

And of course I'm looking for loopholes. You know as well as I do, Verizon does the same thing. Like the C Block agreement regarding tethering. And you're right they can terminate for any reason. However, they have to let you leave without a termination fee.

 

[zomnomnombie]

Interesting...so they can void your service for something you might do?

And of course I'm looking for loopholes. You know as well as I do, Verizon does the same thing. Like the C Block agreement regarding tethering.

The key is detecting that it is unlocked. They won't know you're unlocked until you change something. Then they can ping your device like they do for OTA updates. Then you're busted. And if they decide it's in their best interest to terminate they can.

 

[syndicate0017]

The key is detecting that it is unlocked. They won't know you're unlocked until you change something. Then they can ping your device like they do for OTA updates. Then you're busted. And if they decide it's in their best interest to terminate they can.

Listen, if Verizon wants to go through all that trouble to kick me off the network and lose my service, so be it. I'm looking for an excuse to leave for a GSM carrier.

 

[themuttt]

It says so in your customer agreement that you agreed to.

Customer Agreement

Under the part where it says under what conditions can Verizon terminate:

"modify your device from its manufacturer's specification"

how can it be modifying your device from it's manufacturers specification if the manufacturer is the one supplying the modification? I think, like others, that it is just a scare tactic from VZW

 

[cobravnm13]

how can it be modifying your device from it's manufacturers specification if the manufacturer is the one supplying the modification? I think, like others, that it is just a scare tactic from VZW

I was thinking that as well. The manufacturer is the one that is allowing the bootloader unlock. It isn't fair, though. Almost every single HTC device has an unlockable bootloader, but has VZW done anything to them? HTC or it's customers?

Sent from my 3rd reincarnation of the ever-so-lovable Droid

 

[skennelly]

I was thinking that as well. The manufacturer is the one that is allowing the bootloader unlock. It isn't fair, though. Almost every single HTC device has an unlockable bootloader, but has VZW done anything to them? HTC or it's customers?

Sent from my 3rd reincarnation of the ever-so-lovable Droid

If I'm not mistaken, vzw does try to prevent HTC phones from being unlocked. Didn't the rezound take a couple of months to unlock? I could be wrong, but I also thought you had to short something with a paper clip to completely unlock them. Either way, vzw doesn't want bootloaders unlocked and neither do most carriers. If they didn't care, every phone would be unlocked with the adb command fastboot oem unlock rather than the devs having to find an exploit.

Sent from my SCH-I535

 

[bacK_N_87]

It says so in your customer agreement that you agreed to.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/globalText?textName=CUSTOMER_AGREEMENT&jspName=footer/customerAgreement.jsp

Under the part where it says under what conditions can Verizon terminate:

"modify your device from its manufacturer's specification"

But isn't Motorola the manufacturer who is allowing the modification? So if Verizon did that they could get in trouble for violating their contract.

 

[cobravnm13]

If I'm not mistaken, vzw does try to prevent HTC phones from being unlocked. Didn't the rezound take a couple of months to unlock? I could be wrong, but I also thought you had to short something with a paper clip to completely unlock them. Either way, vzw doesn't want bootloaders unlocked and neither do most carriers. If they didn't care, every phone would be unlocked with the adb command fastboot oem unlock rather than the devs having to find an exploit.

Sent from my SCH-I535

Yes, the Rezound had to be shorted with a paperclip to get S-off, although the bootloader was still unlockable through HTCDev. The S3 didn't have a locked bootloader on any carrier except for VZW (from what I read). Either way, people with a Rezound aren't being threatened with contract cancellation, or whatever they're doing. (This is why we need an Android friendly cell service provider)

Sent from my 3rd reincarnation of the ever-so-lovable Droid

 

[zomnomnombie]

I was thinking that as well. The manufacturer is the one that is allowing the bootloader unlock. It isn't fair, though. Almost every single HTC device has an unlockable bootloader, but has VZW done anything to them? HTC or it's customers?

Sent from my 3rd reincarnation of the ever-so-lovable Droid

Read my subsequent post.

 

[cobravnm13]

Read my subsequent post.

I did. Even though they say "from manufacturer's specifications," the manufacturer is the one supplying the unlock tool. Not the modding community. So it technically still falls under "manny specs." At least, it does in my opinion.

Sent from my 3rd reincarnation of the ever-so-lovable Droid

 

[zomnomnombie]

I did. Even though they say "from manufacturer's specifications," the manufacturer is the one supplying the unlock tool. Not the modding community. So it technically still falls under "manny specs." At least, it does in my opinion.

Sent from my 3rd reincarnation of the ever-so-lovable Droid

The modding community is providing the custom kernels not the manufacturer. The manufacturer can unlock the bootloader but notice how that voids your warranty.

It's lip service. They can release all their proprietary drivers if they wanted but if Verizon only wants you to use signed radios they can terminate you if you change them. Verizon has final say on everything.

 

[themuttt]

The modding community is providing the custom kernels not the manufacturer. The manufacturer can unlock the bootloader but notice how that voids your warranty.

It's lip service. They can release all their proprietary drivers if they wanted but if Verizon only wants you to use signed radios they can terminate you if you change them. Verizon has final say on everything.

for custom kernel, probably, but it would be a hard sell on an unlocked bootloader from the manufacturer. Add to that the fact that there are several phones with unlocked bootloaders allowed on the network as it is, are they really going to kick all of those people off now that moto wants to unlock their phone? Lastly, VZW is condoning the use of the GSIII developer phone on their network, bought directly from Samsung, on their network. Are they prepared to pay Samsung for the phones they produced that can no longer be used on the network?

 

[cobravnm13]

The modding community is providing the custom kernels not the manufacturer. The manufacturer can unlock the bootloader but notice how that voids your warranty.

It's lip service. They can release all their proprietary drivers if they wanted but if Verizon only wants you to use signed radios they can terminate you if you change them. Verizon has final say on everything.

Ok, I know bringing this up is getting old, but what about the Droid 1? You were able to do ANYTHING to that device, but it didn't affect the network like VZW says it will. And they still allowed it without threatening cancellation. What's so different between then and now? Besides more customers, 4G, and screwing it's customers even more?

Edit: the only negative affect to the network I see is keeping people from upgrading to a new device. Their top priority should be to keep the customer happy. And that should include keeping our devices completely open.

Sent from my 3rd reincarnation of the ever-so-lovable Droid

 

[bsweetness]

Ok, I know bringing this up is getting old, but what about the Droid 1? You were able to do ANYTHING to that device, but it didn't affect the network like VZW says it will. And they still allowed it without threatening cancellation. What's so different between then and now? Besides more customers, 4G, and screwing it's customers even more?

Sent from my 3rd reincarnation of the ever-so-lovable Droid

Things were a little different with the original Droid. Motorola and Verizon wanted to lock the bootloader down, but there wasn't enough time to get everything done before the time they wanted to release it. Plus, Google wanted things open since it was the first device to launch with Android 2.0. The Milestone, the GSM version of the original Droid, did launch with a locked down bootloader since they had more time before release and didn't have the same pressure from Google.

 

[cobravnm13]

Things were a little different with the original Droid. Motorola and Verizon wanted to lock the bootloader down, but there wasn't enough time to get everything done before the time they wanted to release it. Plus, Google wanted things open since it was the first device to launch with Android 2.0. The Milestone, the GSM version of the original Droid, did launch with a locked down bootloader since they had more time before release and didn't have the same pressure from Google.

But it didn't negatively affect the network. The only thing that happened was inexperienced people bricking their devices. And then we got recovery images which allowed for a full recovery. The further we went along with the Android game, the more experience we gained and knowledge learned, therefore bricking happens less. But, since the introduction of bootloaders (even though they were planned from day one), bricking became easier. Lack of bootloaders allows for easier recovery. I still don't see how it negatively impacts the network. I don't see how modding our phones is bad.

Sent from my 3rd reincarnation of the ever-so-lovable Droid