I wish Google would put the screws to large scale mobile carriers - Verizon HTC One (M7)

Title sums rant.
Android is Google's operating system, and its not like the majority of developers here are interested in what they can change on their iOS devices.
When people realize the vast improvement their device can take without the added congestion of what mobile networks think you want/are contractually obligated to bloat YOUR phone/device with, they take a different stance on Android completely (at least, I do), and will not move to another operating system UNLESS this hogwash of carrier vs. customer continues.
We purchase the phone, we OWN the phone, as long as we're not doing anything illegal, such as stealing or tampering with Verizon's physical property, WE should be able to customize the software however we want. We're not BUYING the 'software' when we're buying a phone, I'm not choosing to purchase the entire Android experience in its entirety, with absolutely no modified software guaranteed, I'm not choosing to buy the integrated "spy" software or asking for my mobile service provider to collect all this 'anonymous' data so that they can just throw me advertisements or hope I'll ever be interested in paying $2.99 a month for visual voice mail. When you buy a desktop computer, you have the option of removing all of the software components and installing your own on your physical hardware.
Isn't what Verizon is doing technically monopolizing the mobile software industry by forcing a device owner to use specific software that they will not remove? Why not just offer a 'developer edition' line right alongside of the stock phone for a premium? There are already several devices on their network that have exploits and custom software installed on them, so any inclination that their 'security' is at risk, and therefore they forbid unlocked bootloaders is a flat lie, OR wouldn't they be compelled to suspend or terminate service to all those accounts? Why do they get the option to decide which users are allowed to 'break the law' or 'terms of contract?'
I think the only way this issue can ever get resolved is if the software vendor in Google puts its foot into it and demands all carriers allow for an unlocked bootloader. Maybe we all collectively as Google customers should voice our concerns in that direction. Anyone else agree?

+1
Sent from my phone using an app

+2
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk 4

+3
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app

True.
HTC needs Verizon but Verizon needs Android.
Google should start saying this is an open platform leave it alone. With 80% android market share Verizon would have to conform.

I agree, but I think people grossly overestimate the power of this community. If every single one of us stopped buying phones to try and force Google's hand, that would be a loss of like... less than a percent to Google and the manufacturers. The fact is that the very vast majority does not care about unlocked boot loaders and roms and root and s-off. So... I think we will be dealing with these issues indefinitely.
Sent from my HTC One.

Google is still the company that needs to lay down the law. They make money off of root apps and apps developed on rooted phones, they should be upset that Verizon impliments all these restrictions.

The only thing I disagree with is the term own. Unless you buy it outright you lease it until your contract is up.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app

cstrife999 said:
The only thing I disagree with is the term own. Unless you buy it outright you lease it until your contract is up.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
If I had the option of paying $199.99 at a subsidized rate but was forced to have my phone locked down or could pay full price for an unlocked version, I'd be paying full price almost every time, with that infrequent time being that the phone already had an exploit.

rmaccamr said:
If I had the option of paying $199.99 at a subsidized rate but was forced to have my phone locked down or could pay full price for an unlocked version, I'd be paying full price almost every time, with that infrequent time being that the phone already had an exploit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea. Sales of the gs4 and one gpe editions were pretty decent based on this principal. Same for the nexus 4 which just dropped the 8gb model to 200... Off contract...
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app

I hear ya, I dont understand it either, and the fact that HTC made the phone but has to listen to Verizon in removing the ability to unlock the bootloader? People have already unlocked the phone and its obvious that the phone still can be unlocked but Verizon is allowed to tell HTC what to do with their phone that is also on every other carrier and can be unlocked?
Its a bunch of bull and I wish I could leave Verizon but they unfortunately have the best coverage for me and I get the biggest discount from my job, so I would lose even more if I switched. At least the One is a fantastic phone even with it not being rooted and I cant say that too much about many other phones

+1

lets see what will do?

+1
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

+1
Sent from my One using xda app-developers app

Well said, but sadly it is true that both of them will be making money with or without us. The majority of smartphone users barely scratch the surface of what their phones are capable of, even before rooting or jailbreaking. A good amount of people I work with don't even have phones linked to google accounts. Just phone calls and aol mail for them. And they are rocking $300 smartphones with data packages and all.

cstrife999 said:
The only thing I disagree with is the term own. Unless you buy it outright you lease it until your contract is up.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^ This.

cstrife999 said:
The only thing I disagree with is the term own. Unless you buy it outright you lease it until your contract is up.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
You aren't leasing a phone. You are getting a subsidized price on the equipment by agreeing to stay with the company for terms of the contact. You own it. You aren't leasing it. You are not obligated to stay with them. You pay a term fee if you decide to leave to make up for the subsidy.
Sent from my HTCOneVZW using Tapatalk

That's the double-edges sword of open software like Android. The exact same rights that allow us to modify Android to be the way we want it gives carriers the ability to load up their bloatware and lock it down. I think it would be a bad idea for Google to mandate anything simply because it goes against the entire concept of Android being so open. Also it would motivate carriers to find alternatives. As huge as it is in the mobile market, the truth is most people who bought their Android phones bought them because they looked good and had neat features. If those features happen to have the name "Android", "Windows", "Ubuntu", or anything else attached to them makes no difference whatsoever.
If we want this to change we need to directly petition Verizon to stop locking things down. If they don't change their ways we need to be willing to leave them for another carrier and tell them why we're leaving on our way out the door. The reality though - as has been mentioned already - is that we're a very small part of Verizon's user base and don't really have much of a voice. Verizon currently has about 120,000,000 subscribers (Thanks for the correction josh995) in the U.S. (source) The entirety of the XDA Developers user base is 5,426,190, which obviously isn't all Verizon subscribers. We have to count on them taking the concerns of the enthusiasts into account more than casual users. Sure, we're the guys and gals that are more likely to brick our phones and make shady warranty claims, but we're also the guys and gals that buy phones at full price because we want the latest and greatest. We're also the ones that others come to for advice on phones and carriers.
tl;dr - Google shouldn't do anything about this, we need to make ourselves heard by the carriers directly.

I couldn't agree more. I still have my Verizon Galaxy nexus and will always cherish it. Its ridiculous how difficult unlocking the bootloader has become on Verizon devices. If I didn't have my grandfather data plan I'd be with a different carrier yesterday
Sent from my One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Related

[Q] [POLL] Would you *PAY* HTC to unlock your G2's NAND?

It suddenly occurred to me that the main reason HTC has locked our handsets is that they don't want to deal with bogus warranty claims and the labor costs thereof. You unlock your G2's NAND, you fry your handset by overclocking too high or doing something else stupid to brick it, and then say "HURR DURR I DUNNO HOW IT GOT THAT WAY." Then they have to expend resources to determine whether or not you screwed it up.
So, what if we paid them in advance for that labor? What if we sent in our handset to have it factory un-write-protected for, say, $20-$50? Would you agree to this kind of deal?
Hell no.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Hell no all phones that I pay full price for should come completely unlocked. Let's face it these new phones are full blown computers these days. You would expect to buy a computer and have to pay extra for the right to add or delete software would you? The only way I would expect this would be if you got special pricing with a contract stateing that you are not allowed to do such things.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
shortlived said:
Hell no all phones that I pay full price for should come completely unlocked. Let's face it these new phones are full blown computers these days. You would expect to buy a computer and have to pay extra for the right to add or delete software would you? The only way I would expect this would be if you got special pricing with a contract stateing that you are not allowed to do such things.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Should" and "will" are two very different things. HTC incurs much more risk with a handset than Toshiba or Dell do with a computer -- for one thing, you can't "brick" a computer. The recovery process with a computer is significantly more standardized and easy to perform than on a smartphone. Computers don't include cellular hardware that is a jealously guarded secret from the user, that has to be accessed with binary blob drivers, that can become irreversibly software-busted if you screw up a software update.
Should there be a standardized cell phone recovery/imaging system so that it's not possible to brick ANY cell phone that uses it? Absolutely. Go develop it. No manufacturer will use it. It's not in their financial interests to do so.
If, however, enough people were to make it clear to a company like HTC that we as hobbyists were willing to incur risk and sign away our right to demand that HTC fix our mistakes... something might start to get through the cracks.
This of course ignores the fact that manufacturers and carriers like to be able to put crapware on our phones that we can't remove... but it's a start.
I think it's a fair question because so many people tool around, brick their phones and try to get a free replacement somehow. So, I'm not mad at these companies for locking their stuff down. I would not pay extra, but I would jump ship to any company that offers an unlocked phone. I think that would send the best message.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk
no i wouldnt pay but i would allow them to black list my imei in trade for them unlocking the nand.
Now for the people that dont understand what im saying. I am saying that HTC should make a software for unlocking the nand but before it unlocks it reads your imei and sends it to them so they know who unlocked and who didnt
I already paid them right? Why would I have to do it again. Maybe it should be the other way around and you can buy a nand locked phone for extra $$. But let say for a lower cost than insurance?
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Yes I agree however I blame the people who don't read instructions and try to turn in they're phone. Just pay for insurance and pay the full deductable or don't try changing anything. But that's just a pipe dream. Too many people just don't read enough before doing stuff.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Would you pay nike money so you could were your shoes after you bought them from the mall. Why would I pay you to give me acsess to my own phone it should come that way
xile6 said:
no i wouldnt pay but i would allow them to black list my imei in trade for them unlocking the nand.
Now for the people that dont understand what im saying. I am saying that HTC should make a software for unlocking the nand but before it unlocks it reads your imei and sends it to them so they know who unlocked and who didnt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would rather have this as well. I already paid for the phone. It is mine. If they are worried about me making bogus warranty claims, then I should be able to opt-out and get full access to my device in return.
The imei number idea I kind of like. Instead of 'blacklisting', let me sign a release of liability where I register my serial number and by doing so waiver any liability from that point on
Sent from deep inside my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
hell no, we won't go! Hell no, we won't go!! Hell no, we won't go!!! Hell no, we won't go!!!!
So when your phone legitimately fails due to a hardware issue you can pay full price for a new one? Why would anyone opt for this? That's not even legally feasible. It would violate lemon laws all over the place.
I would be willing to up to $40 so long as there were guaranteed to be tons of ROMS, themes, recovery options, etc... I want my G1 development back!
Only because I'm inpatient however, and sick of waiting for full root and custom recovery. Basically anyone who pledged in the fun money for dev's thread would be saying yes.
gravis86 said:
I would rather have this as well. I already paid for the phone. It is mine. If they are worried about me making bogus warranty claims, then I should be able to opt-out and get full access to my device in return.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is precisely what we do when we agree to "root/unlock" our phones. Essentially voiding our warranty, people who do it accept and understand the risks. HTC, make a legal agreement and we'll all accept it in return you let us Nand unlock!!!
Thanks.
*HOPE A HTC REPRESENTATIVE READS THIS**
Ya, if I didn't pay full price for the phone. Nand locked=discounted price, nand unlocked=full price-- warranty includes movable parts only
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
shortlived said:
Hell no all phones that I pay full price for should come completely unlocked. Let's face it these new phones are full blown computers these days. You would expect to buy a computer and have to pay extra for the right to add or delete software would you? The only way I would expect this would be if you got special pricing with a contract stateing that you are not allowed to do such things.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/18/intel-wants-to-charge-50-to-unlock-stuff-your-cpu-can-already-d/
*EDIT*
I forgot to add, this is completely ridiculous.. I want my G2 fully unlocked asap, including SIM unlocked.
My Bounty is already up. If HTC wants to take it to unlock our phones. They can
Simunlock i can do for you heheh
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
I'd bet fewer than 10% of users root their phones, figure a 10% brick rate among those people and that's 1%. Now ask yourself what percentage of people phisically break their phones? Having said that, one thing is controllable the other isn't .
BTW....HELL NO!!!

Wireless tether gone?

I have Wireless Tether for Root Users installed but when I try to search it on the Market with mine or anyone elses phone, it's not there.
Ideas?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch using XDA Premium.
And after double checking the Market again, it says the app isn't available for my carrier. So it looks like it may be disabled for Sprint customers or maybe just us E4GT people.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch using XDA Premium.
Sunsparc said:
And after double checking the Market again, it says the app isn't available for my carrier. So it looks like it may be disabled for Sprint customers or maybe just us E4GT people.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch using XDA Premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually sprint finally disabled it for us. It was reported on a couple tech blogs. Sorry I don't have link since I'm on my phone to show you.
Sunsparc said:
I have Wireless Tether for Root Users installed but when I try to search it on the Market with mine or anyone elses phone, it's not there.
Ideas?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch using XDA Premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HERE ya go......
Im not likeing what sprint is doing but i can see by the end of the year we gonna loose are unlimited becuase of apple i hate apple they suck
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
fortunately it's still available online
http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/
installs just fine too
tech7 said:
Im not likeing what sprint is doing but i can see by the end of the year we gonna loose are unlimited becuase of apple i hate apple they suck
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ridiculous. You honestly think it has anything at all to do with Apple? You Apple hating bandwagoners crack me up.
Please, enlighten us all with your reasoning.
_MetalHead_ said:
Ridiculous. You honestly think it has anything at all to do with Apple? You Apple hating bandwagoners crack me up.
Please, enlighten us all with your reasoning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has everything to do with the intro of the iPhone to sprint's lineup. Do a search and you will find a zillion posts as to why
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
limeaid said:
This has everything to do with the intro of the iPhone to sprint's lineup. Do a search and you will find a zillion posts as to why
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just because a bunch of people post about it does not make it so. It is speculation at best. I fail to see how the release of an iPhone would make Sprint block tethering apps on Android. Correlation != causation. Pretty sure it is because Sprint is trying to crack down on excess data usage in general and that was one of the easiest ways to do it. Sprint has made a ton of changes to their policies lately and everyone is blaming the iPhone for it. Nobody ever stops to think that maybe they have a plan and that the iPhone is simply PART of that plan.
The plan is to save a lot of money bc they have to pay $30+ million to apple for the iphone so this way they get more new contracts! This is why they raised the returning fee to $350 and 14 days bc they know that a lot of the new iphone users are going to leave bc the bad data service. They need the iphone to raise the share price so they can pay for the LTE.
_MetalHead_ said:
Correlation != causation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, that is true. But the two concepts are similar.
In science, sometimes you cannot get an unequivocal proof of something, but you may have good correlations between two phenomena.
A scientist may then use the following approach to prove that the two phenomena are directly related: review and disprove all other possible scenarios which may give the same experimental result. Technically it's not a proof, as it is essentially an argument from ignorance. But it's a very useful tool nevertheless.
I cannot see any other good reason why Sprint would disable wireless tether app in the market so close to iphone4s release date.
Sprint has made a ton of changes to their policies lately and everyone is blaming the iPhone for it. Nobody ever stops to think that maybe they have a plan and that the iPhone is simply PART of that plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you need to stop and think that perhaps there's a reason why everyone has that attitude.
BTW, I think it's time you took that iphone out of your beehind.
dmora01 said:
The plan is to save a lot of money bc they have to pay $30+ million to apple for the iphone so this way they get more new contracts! This is why they raised the returning fee to $350 and 14 days bc they know that a lot of the new iphone users are going to leave bc the bad data service. They need the iphone to raise the share price so they can pay for the LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The key phrase here is "so they can pay for LTE". They are in the midst of expanding and strengthening their network and adding LTE coverage, this is why they need the money, not to pay for the iPhone. The iPhone is only a piece of their greater plan and all the cuts and changes they are making is to help see that plan to fruition.
nabbed said:
BTW, I think it's time you took that iphone out of your beehind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
k.
While Sprint certainly needs money for infrastructure upgrades given the short-term-profit outlook that has ruined the economy in the past 20 years I'm willing to bet that Sprint cares more about getting more customers (with the iPhone) than they do about upgrading infrastructure for customers they already have.
How far apart are those priorities? Perhaps not very far, but, I think it's almost obvious that Sprint would care more about new contract customers. Though managing churn certainly comes into play here, that's straddling the line though. Some of that churn will be for Sprint's (previous) lack of the iPhone and some will be for horrid coverage and performance.
But what is going to cost Sprint more? LTE rollout and the rest of the new Network Vision or paying Apple for all of the (estimated) 20 MILLION iPhones they promised to buy at $30 *BILLION*....
...either way you slice it Sprint needs to cut it's costs in any way possible. I would imagine a $30 *BILLION* contract with Apple is certainly likely to accelerate their desire to cut some corners here and there.
But for all of the 'the sky is falling' types out there I wouldn't worry about smart-phone unlimited data any time soon. Now that Sprint has the iPhone as well it is an even playing field...now they just have to catch up with infrastructure and customers...and until they become at least #2 of the big 3 I wouldn't worry about "Unlimited Data" going anywhere. It's all they have to differentiate themselves...the iPhone only upgrades them to 'also ran' status.
...though, I don't say unlimited data I say "Unlimited Data"....you can replace the implied air-quotes with an asterisk if you wish. What "Unlimited Data" will mean in the future may change....but it will still likely be what we have now.
But, if Sprint were to happen ditch the "Unlimited Data" I'd bail to Verizon so fast it'd make a couple heads spin...I'm sticking with Sprint for what, the paltry $10-$15 in savings over Verizon???? Pfffft....It's the "Unlimited Data"...you take that away and I (and many many others I'd wager) wouldn't be willing to put up with their crap.
_MetalHead_ said:
Just because a bunch of people post about it does not make it so. It is speculation at best. I fail to see how the release of an iPhone would make Sprint block tethering apps on Android. Correlation != causation. Pretty sure it is because Sprint is trying to crack down on excess data usage in general and that was one of the easiest ways to do it. Sprint has made a ton of changes to their policies lately and everyone is blaming the iPhone for it. Nobody ever stops to think that maybe they have a plan and that the iPhone is simply PART of that plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me help you since you seem to need the obvious stated.
Sprint clearly believes that the iPhone will lead to a significant increase in customers and thus bandwidth requirements. They are taking actions to prepare for these changes. cutting down on high data usage so that the network can handle three new traffic is almost certainly on their minds.
---> unauthorized wireless tethering consumes data
Do I need to fill in the rest of the blanks for you?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
limeaid said:
Let me help you since you seem to need the obvious stated.
Sprint clearly believes that the iPhone will lead to a significant increase in customers and thus bandwidth requirements. They are taking actions to prepare for these changes. cutting down on high data usage so that the network can handle three new traffic is almost certainly on their minds.
---> unauthorized wireless tethering consumes data
Do I need to fill in the rest of the blanks for you?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1... not a conspiracy therapist type of guy but I too believe the introduction of the Iphone will/has change(d) how Sprint handles things.. My data speeds which were terrible to begin with have only gotten worse, which makes my tethering my Sunday ticket when I am out pretty ****ty...lol
Do a google search for Wireless Tether and you will find the apk.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Glad I got the new 3.1 beta 99 version the short time it was there. Gotta test it out and see if it still works
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
JohnCorleone said:
Glad I got the new 3.1 beta 99 version the short time it was there. Gotta test it out and see if it still works
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will always be available from GoogleCode...and v3.1 beta 99 works great. YMMV.
Everyone seems to be missing the OBVIOUS reason they would want to block tethering apps on the market that take advantage of rooted phones...
Sprint CHARGES people for the right to tether their phone. If you can root and tether for free, they are losing out on that $30/month tethering charge.
Plain and simple... That costs them a lot of money whether or not the iPhone is in their lineup.
I'm not saying I'm happy that they finally got smart enough to block apps that allow you to do things that violate the TOS, but its a pretty obvious reason.
Verizon and AT&T have been doing it for 6 months already.
Dalmus said:
Everyone seems to be missing the OBVIOUS reason they would want to block tethering apps on the market that take advantage of rooted phones...
Sprint CHARGES people for the right to tether their phone. If you can root and tether for free, they are losing out on that $30/month tethering charge.
Plain and simple... That costs them a lot of money whether or not the iPhone is in their lineup.
I'm not saying I'm happy that they finally got smart enough to block apps that allow you to do things that violate the TOS, but its a pretty obvious reason.
Verizon and AT&T have been doing it for 6 months already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
6 months? Far longer so far as I know...but I've not had service with either of them for years.
While I know they could stand to lose $30 from each of us rooted tetherers I don't think that's how they would lose the most money. We are so small in number however our data consumption is likely in the top 1-5%. It's not the $30 they miss from us (which I'm sure they'd love) so much as the 15-25gb more a month that we consume over the average data hungry android user.
Sure, it's about money. I'm just not convinced it's the $30 they are missing so much as the terabyte upon terabyte that a tiny tiny tiny fraction of us are surely consuming in aggregate. Their hotspan plans and devices are now bandwidth limited, remember.

[Q] Will Verizon Galaxy Note 2 have a locked bootloader?

I've been long time iOS dev/user but I'm considering jumping ship and getting the Note 2. I'm a Verizon user though and I'm not really interested in switching carriers right now. My concern is that since I see that the S3 from Verizon had a locked bootloader, is it likely that the Note 2 will as well? I'm sure no one knows, because it's not been released yet, but maybe...just maybe...some nice Verizon tester might spill the beans before release :fingers-crossed:
I'm no dev but I have a vzw gs3 that shipped with a locked bootloader and thanks to an African Canadian sock monkey its unlocked now! with as popular as the note was and the fact that it'll finally be coming to big red I would imagine another sock monkey would grace us *fingers crossed*
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
If it comes locked, I have confidence that someone at XDA will get it unlocked or work around it.
mcsenerd said:
I've been long time iOS dev/user but I'm considering jumping ship and getting the Note 2. I'm a Verizon user though and I'm not really interested in switching carriers right now. My concern is that since I see that the S3 from Verizon had a locked bootloader, is it likely that the Note 2 will as well? I'm sure no one knows, because it's not been released yet, but maybe...just maybe...some nice Verizon tester might spill the beans before release :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
verizon likes to use the locked bootloader, i dont think they do this just to be difficult, i think it more effectively separates the people who want to try stuff but have zero clue what they are doing from ruining their phone (sometimes) by hozing a rom load.
i am no expert, but i anyone can google a rom, and anyone can load cwm or twrp (usually) and root a phone... by adding an extra step before you can load roms it forces people to either a: read long post with step by step instructions to do it properely, or dl a tool to do it for them, at which point they will also usually find tools and instructions not to hose their phone when loading roms...
is it annoying? sure... but its not the end of the world...
With Verizon, they don't really want you to own your phone. They want to make it difficult to remove all the crap they load onto it so that they can make extra money from selling devices. That's why they fought so hard against selling the Galaxy Nexus and pushed everyone to the Droid Razr.
lnxbz said:
With Verizon, they don't really want you to own your phone. They want to make it difficult to remove all the crap they load onto it so that they can make extra money from selling devices. That's why they fought so hard against selling the Galaxy Nexus and pushed everyone to the Droid Razr.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't Verizon lost a case against a customer on installing wifi ethering app? That was a good day for consumers.
yes the bootloader will be locked
http://briefmobile.com/exclusive-verizon-samsung-galaxy-note-2-bootloader-locked
littleguevara said:
yes the bootloader will be locked
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Click to collapse
That's disappointing even if not entirely unexpected. I'm sure that it will be worked around in due time, but I do wish it wasn't an unnecessary roadblock there in the first place. Although, I will say that Apple's been pretty successful in squashing the jailbreakers on the A5 and up devices thus far. Done right...it's not always so easy to break through against crap like this.
someone0 said:
Didn't Verizon lost a case against a customer on installing wifi ethering app? That was a good day for consumers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that the FCC ruled that blocking tethering on the LTE bands is a violation of the requirements for them. Not sure how likely that will stop Verizon though.
ronaldheld said:
If it comes locked, I have confidence that someone at XDA will get it unlocked or work around it.
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Click to collapse
this is the wrong way around it IMHO. vote with your money: don't buy, do switch carriers.
sometimes i wish hackers stopped hacking locked bootloaders and iphones. people should start taking responsibility for their purchase decisions. awww u bought that locked phone?? well, throw it out the window when u r finished paying for it and next time around try choosing better! if people stopped buying they would stop locking.
Lanchon said:
this is the wrong way around it IMHO. vote with your money: don't buy, do switch carriers.
sometimes i wish hackers stopped hacking locked bootloaders and iphones. people should start taking responsibility for their purchase decisions. awww u bought that locked phone?? well, throw it out the window when u r finished paying for it and next time around try choosing better! if people stopped buying they would stop locking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if you buy something you should own it, right. At least that's the idea. To me, at least locking the bootloader on open platform is wrong. If the carrier want to lock it, do it on iPhone and Windows phone. But I do agree that you should vote with your money AND VOICE. Let other people know about it too. Company like Verizon not gonna change if you aren't being vocal about it. But seriously, don't hope that XDA will just can unlock anything. If you go look for Motorola Photon 4G and you unlock the bootloader, you will break 4G. It have been out for over a year now and have still have no complete unlock.
someone0 said:
Well, if you buy something you should own it, right. At least that's the idea. To me, at least locking the bootloader on open platform is wrong. If the carrier want to lock it, do it on iPhone and Windows phone. But I do agree that you should vote with your money AND VOICE. Let other people know about it too. Company like Verizon not gonna change if you aren't being vocal about it. But seriously, don't hope that XDA will just can unlock anything. If you go look for Motorola Photon 4G and you unlock the bootloader, you will break 4G. It have been out for over a year now and have still have no complete unlock.
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Click to collapse
That's the thing. Most people buy it under contract, and the court ruling in 1998 treats this subsidization like a loan. You don't own the device until the contractual agreement is met whether by termination fee or by completing the contract. They also said there has to be a diminishing return on the termination fee which we have now on all carriers.
Sometimes theres not much choice, if i want the note 2 and don't want to be stuck on 2g or no service than I HAVE to pick verizon or buy a new home somewhere else... Ill pick verizon and xda to unlock instead of moving my family
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You don't have to choose Verizon. You can just not have service which affects Verizon's bottom line which in turn affects their choices. This will affect all carriers. Make them work harder for your money.
By percentage those of use who will "strike" until we get an unlocked bootloader are too small economically to make a difference, IMO.
Which is why there are so few choices to begin with for decent service, in almost every city you have choices, out in the boonies we just don't have providers.
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Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday. Better hurry if you plan on switching.

In October 2012, the Librarian of Congress, who determines exemptions to a strict anti-hacking law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), decided that unlocking mobile phones would no longer be allowed. But the librarian provided a 90-day window during which people could still buy a phone and unlock it. That window closes on January 26.
Unlocking a phone frees it from restrictions that keep the device from working on more than one carrier's network, allowing it run on other networks that use the same wireless standard. This can be useful to international travellers who need their phones to work on different networks. Other people just like the freedom of being able to switch carriers as they please.
http://www.livescience.com/26541-unlocking-cellphones-becomes-illegal.html
Maybe this might wake some people up since it is tyranny that directly effects you .
Glad I already unlocked my note 2
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A lot of things are illegal but still get done. It is always a risk. I am sure this will not be enforced highly
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I agree
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Nolenm04 said:
Glad I already unlocked my note 2
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can our device be unlocked without another carriers sim card?
Some_dude36 said:
Can our device be unlocked without another carriers sim card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes there is multiple threads on how to do it
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Thanks,
Looks like it is only illegal if you are still on contract and no worries if you paid full retail.
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Some_dude36 said:
In October 2012, the Librarian of Congress, who determines exemptions to a strict anti-hacking law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), decided that unlocking mobile phones would no longer be allowed. But the librarian provided a 90-day window during which people could still buy a phone and unlock it. That window closes on January 26.
Unlocking a phone frees it from restrictions that keep the device from working on more than one carrier's network, allowing it run on other networks that use the same wireless standard. This can be useful to international travellers who need their phones to work on different networks. Other people just like the freedom of being able to switch carriers as they please.
http://www.livescience.com/26541-unlocking-cellphones-becomes-illegal.html
Maybe this might wake some people up since it is tyranny that directly effects you .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your joking right? Jesus Christ, what has this country become. I have the right to choose what carrier to use my phone on and if it requires unlocking IDGAF
JOSE89178 said:
Your joking right? Jesus Christ, what has this country become. I have the right to choose what carrier to use my phone on and if it requires unlocking IDGAF
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a country where a company can sue any other company that has rounded edges on their products... 'merica
one big question I have is whether or not the government will track websites such as xda and arrest people that tell other how to unlock their phones... you do know that "hackers" get more jail time than child rapists
eurohomie said:
a country where a company can sue any other company that has rounded edges on their products... 'merica
one big question I have is whether or not the government will track websites such as xda and arrest people that tell other how to unlock their phones... you do know that "hackers" get more jail time than child rapists
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha thats true. Whats next? Using cases is gonna be illegal cause it has the same shape as the phone? Or better yet, using a different charger. & Yea they probably might start monitoring XDA Forums for "Illegal Activity".
Well, that settles it for me...I'm going to buy only unlocked
phones directly from China...way more cheaper and these
gready *****s (it all comes to money for them) can kiss my
hard earned money good buy...
And so it begins - we are all going to be bound by the testicles by carriers, just as we are by the gas pump. Once an accessory becomes a necessity in our society, somebody wants to control it, for monetary purposes. Whether it be by law (lobbyists), or policy (in a way, law)...
Umm, well all I have to say is I saw this coming. Here is an interesting thread/article I wrote almost exactly a year ago.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1475122
Furthermore, I'll say that this new "law" sounds like somebody being upset over T-Mobile taking iPhone contracts away from them... and doing it with half the cost to the consumer. It appears they are the ones being targeted by this.
This country is sad.
If I paid for it I'll do as I like .... This is bs ...
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mrufokid said:
If I paid for it I'll do as I like .... This is bs ...
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We'll see how far this law goes to enforce... but this is the beginning of an era of technological slavery
It is actually still very legal to have your phone unlocked by the carrier, please read the actual ruling details.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...l-under-dmca-for-smartphones-but-not-tablets/
In other words, phones you already have, as well as those purchased between now and next January, can be unlocked. But phones purchased after January 2013 can only be unlocked with the carrier's permission
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Click to collapse
I hate the spread of misinformation, just about as much as people freaking the f&#@ out about things they didn't even take the time to confirm to be true, don't you all ever ask yourself "is this for real?"?
daveid said:
It is actually still very legal to have your phone unlocked by the carrier, please read the actual ruling details.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...l-under-dmca-for-smartphones-but-not-tablets/
I hate the spread of misinformation, just about as much as people freaking the f&#@ out about things they didn't even take the time to confirm to be true, don't you all ever ask yourself "is this for real?"?
Click to expand...
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"... can only be unlocked with carrier's permission..."
Seems pretty black and white to me. Well that appears to read that regardless of anything, you need to have carrier's permission. Regardless of its status. This reads very black and white... T-Mobile purchased = you ask their permission to unlock it.
Did I miss something?
I was just told by my DM that We are actually going to start charging a $3.99 fee for Unlocking Devices effective 01/31/13. Are DM also said this is going to apply to all stores and CS is going to charge the fee as well. Seems like a Monopoly to me.
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Last phone I unlocked was my mytouch 4g. Just happened to be in the store and they did it for me. And if jose is right about the $4 they ate going to charge. I dont care, if I go back home again for a vacation. It will still be cheaper to unlock and buy a sim then to roam.
mrufokid said:
If I paid for it I'll do as I like .... This is bs ...
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IKR
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"You can also pay full price for a phone, not the discounted price that comes with a two-year service contract, to receive the device unlocked from the get-go."
I paid full retail. As T-Mobile is no longer subsidizing phones, they should all be unlocked when you buy them after 1/26/13.

SIM-unlock is illegal in the U.S

Guys i wounder if you are aware of it
.
Removing SIMlocks was banned in the United States from 26 January. Everyone who buys the phone with a SIMlock after that date in order to "free" his mobile will need to obtain an official permission from a carrier . The new legal regulation does not include phones purchased before January 25, carriers are still free to offer unlocked handsets. However, if an American buys a phone with a SIMlock, he would be unable to remove blockages in simple way without permission.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO UNLOCKED SIM-LOCK= NO UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER
Oh how glade i am that i am not in USA?:laugh: how much i hate anti -hacker policy !
Warning think twice before you buy phone !!! Simfree
You can always break the law
America. Land of the free..........
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You just have to buy them sim free... Obvious, no?
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alexpraga said:
You just have to buy them sim free... Obvious, no?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah,and what if its much cheaper to buy on the contract,how about that?
There's a huge problem with this law... Developers are NOT going to honor it. In theory, and on paper, they will. (To protect themselves from legal action) ... But the fact of the matter is this.. It's illegal to download music... How many people has THAT stopped?
If anything, this new law in effect will cause an outrage, and actually help the community. It's bred in our genetic code to be "curious"... So that "curiosity" may very well spark new findings and methods for unlocking, just for the simple fact "someone" is trying to tell us we can't.
This wasn't put in play to hurt the modification community. It was put in place to protect the carriers themselves.
Retail Value -vs- Contract termination to move your newly unlocked phone to a cheaper carrier.
Contract termination is almost always cheaper... So the carriers are actually losing money that way. It's all about the money, and never about the customer. Well...the majority of the time anyways..
power323f said:
America. Land of the free..........
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean united states, because America Is not a country, is a continent.
I honestly think we should feel stepped down on devs pride with this law.The operators are putting themselves in "God Mode" and trying to stick you to them.They have absolutely no right to this!Screw these bastards!
panchuckles said:
You mean united states, because America Is not a country, is a continent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes i know. But ask somebody in the United States of America on the street and they will say they live in America.
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I think this will just make people who really care about this sort of thing step back and take a look at how much money they are wasting buying locked phones. Last time I checked and things may have changed is when I buy a carrier locked phone from att the phone it self costs me 100$ while the phone unlocked is about 450$ so they make it sound like I am getting a good deal buying the phone with two year contracts while in turn they force me to buy expensive and UN-needed carrier provided data plans that are extremely limited. Last time I was with att back when g1 came out it cost me something like 49$ for the phone plan plus extra 39$ for data plan they would not allow me to get the cheaper data plans since the higher priced one in what was "required" by that phone. Soon I canceled that plan. Next I bought with cash a sony x10 cost me something like 300$ then I had my 39$ unlimited talk and text from t-mobile and then 10$ a month for 2gb data since it is all i needed since wifi is everywhere. That saved me 29$x24 months = 696$ - 300 for the phone = total savings of 396$ Not counting the fact that t-mobile plan was cheaper.
Point is for the most part it is cheaper to get an unlocked phone and a lower data plan than it is to buy a contracted phone.
and btw this law effects SIM locks only not BOOTLOADER locks. Still safe to break bootloaders for now. Odd how last year the DMCA made it so they had to give us unlock codes and now it makes it so it is illegal to unlock sims.
DekinGBar said:
I honestly think we should feel stepped down on devs pride with this law.The operators are putting themselves in "God Mode" and trying to stick you to them.They have absolutely no right to this!Screw these bastards!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It still comes down to the fact that carriers pay you to use their service for 18 months - 2 years. They pay you by giving a $400-$600 phone to you for CHEAP and even FREE prices. No one is forcing anybody to get a subsidized phone instead of unlocked versions. This reaction is comparable to free G-Mail users complaining about how Google scans and saves ALL users E-mail to create a database on them for possible ways to sell something. They can do this because YOU LET THEM. If you don't like how AT&T or others treat customers then don't use their services
power323f said:
Yes i know. But ask somebody in the United States of America on the street and they will say they live in America.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only if you ask someone that doesn't care about the United States of America, how it was founded and the Constitution that gives us our Liberty.
Sorry for the off-topic, but as a happy AT&T customer and a citizen of the USA I felt the need to mini-rant
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DekinGBar said:
Yeah,and what if its much cheaper to buy on the contract,how about that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems cheaper but it's not in the long run! Telecom companies are not really there to buy us phones from manufacturers and give them to us! We are just asking for a loan to buy a phone!
DekinGBar said:
Yeah,and what if its much cheaper to buy on the contract,how about that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know about your country but in Germany it is always a lot cheaper to buy an unlocked phone.
The only difference is that when you get a locked phone from a carrier, you don't have to pay it all at once (but with extremely high monthly fees)
Gesendet von meinem LT26i
Please note that is not completely illegal for you to unlock your phone in the US - you just cannot use third party companies to do it. A carrier can willingly allow you to unlock your phone - this part is not illegal as they still can issue an unlock code if it inline with their unlock policies.
Make Unlocking Cell Phones Legal. Hurry!!! Few Days Left!!!
Here is the link where you can submit your vote against making unlocking illegal (new government program)
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-unlocking-cell-phones-legal/1g9KhZG7
mine420 said:
and btw this law effects SIM locks only not BOOTLOADER locks. Still safe to break bootloaders for now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly.
______________
From my LT28
LT28 Thread Index
Sv: SIM-unlock is illegal in the U.S
In Denmark we don't have SIM locks anymore... Only on iPhone if there is any
What is the penalty for unlocking the lock in the US then?
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I don't day that. I say I live in heaven
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