HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month

#1

Post by makethetick » Mon, Jul 11, 2011, 10:46 AM UTC

HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month
reghardware.com

Re: HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month

#2

Post by markokocic » Mon, Jul 11, 2011, 12:34 PM UTC

Thanks to Unrevoked, Clockworkmod and Cyanogenmod folks for forcing HTC to do it.

Re: HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month

#3

Post by CrazedGeek » Mon, Jul 11, 2011, 12:57 PM UTC

markokocic wrote: post #2

Thanks to Unrevoked, Clockworkmod and Cyanogenmod folks for forcing HTC to do it.

Also thanks to HTC and Sony Ericsson for actually doing it. Something like this cannot be popular with the carriers.

Re: HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month

#4

Post by soulinafishbowl » Mon, Jul 11, 2011, 1:22 PM UTC

I haven't read much about how carriers feel about this. For example: Will it be the end of tethering fees? Because root privileges on an HTC EVO allow you to tether wirelessly, circumventing an addition $30/mo, will Sprint just stop charging for tethering? Or will there be another level of restrictions in place to prevent it?

Re: HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month

#5

Post by ben1040 » Mon, Jul 11, 2011, 1:48 PM UTC

soulinafishbowl wrote: post #4

I haven't read much about how carriers feel about this. For example: Will it be the end of tethering fees? Because root privileges on an HTC EVO allow you to tether wirelessly, circumventing an addition $30/mo, will Sprint just stop charging for tethering? Or will there be another level of restrictions in place to prevent it?

It seems like this might be moot soon since unlimited data seems to be going the way of the dodo anyway. Assuming the T-Mobile merger goes through, Sprint will be the last carrier to offer it.

AT&T had also started cracking down on people tethering without paying, with the punishment being losing your grandfathered unlimited data. I imagine this wouldn't be hard for Verizon to do either, now that they've got data caps too.

Re: HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month

#6

Post by makethetick » Mon, Jul 11, 2011, 1:49 PM UTC

soulinafishbowl wrote: post #4

I haven't read much about how carriers feel about this. For example: Will it be the end of tethering fees? Because root privileges on an HTC EVO allow you to tether wirelessly, circumventing an addition $30/mo, will Sprint just stop charging for tethering? Or will there be another level of restrictions in place to prevent it?

If they can find a way to charge you, they will. I guess they'll start looking into various other checks such as browser/user agent when visiting websites.

Re: HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month

#7

Post by StavrosK » Mon, Jul 11, 2011, 2:02 PM UTC

Here's hoping there's an unlock for Desire HD, nobody has managed to root the latest version yet, which means that you can't root it without erasing all your data and downgrading...

Re: HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month

#8

Post by mike-cardwell » Mon, Jul 11, 2011, 2:09 PM UTC

makethetick wrote: post #6

soulinafishbowl wrote: post #4

I haven't read much about how carriers feel about this. For example: Will it be the end of tethering fees? Because root privileges on an HTC EVO allow you to tether wirelessly, circumventing an addition $30/mo, will Sprint just stop charging for tethering? Or will there be another level of restrictions in place to prevent it?

If they can find a way to charge you, they will. I guess they'll start looking into various other checks such as browser/user agent when visiting websites.

I'd like to see them try that with me. All of my phones data traffic bounces through my Linode box thanks to a rooted HTC Desire Z running OpenVPN on CyanogenMod 7.

Re: HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month

#9

Post by markokocic » Mon, Jul 11, 2011, 2:25 PM UTC

CrazedGeek wrote: post #3

markokocic wrote: post #2

Thanks to Unrevoked, Clockworkmod and Cyanogenmod folks for forcing HTC to do it.

Also thanks to HTC and Sony Ericsson for actually doing it. Something like this cannot be popular with the carriers.

I can't see why would that seriously affect carriers. People that will going to root their phones to get rid of carrier bloatware are the same people that will never use that bloatware and that will root their phones anyways.

This move just makes life of those people a bit easier. And it's a good move for HTC since those people that will benefit from this are more tech savvy people that will recommend HTC to their familly next time they ask them "What phone should I buy with next contract?".

Re: HTC says Android bootloader unlock software out next month

#10

Post by makethetick » Mon, Jul 11, 2011, 2:30 PM UTC

mike-cardwell wrote: post #8

makethetick wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they can find a way to charge you, they will. I guess they'll start looking into various other checks such as browser/user agent when visiting websites.

I'd like to see them try that with me. All of my phones data traffic bounces through my Linode box thanks to a rooted HTC Desire Z running OpenVPN on CyanogenMod 7.

Yeah, I was going to say, that would easily be defeated with a simple VPN/SSH tunnel! On a side note, CM7 is awesome on my Desire Z!