Good news for owners of HTC’s Android devices – HTC has expanded its official bootloader unlock utility to cover all HTC Android devices launched after September 2011, no matter the carrier. Older models will also be added to the tool, but this will take a little longer.
I think they should be applauded for opening their devices in this way. I know that it makes HTC a more attractive brand to me.
What people want is regular Android updates. If HTC put out regular AOSP updates, almost nobody would even want an unlocked bootloader.
That’s great… but it worries me that the process involves calling home for an auth token. Meh.
http://htcdev.com/bootloader/preview_unlock_process
I’m American, but I’m glad I live outside America where unbranded, unlocked phones are more common. Buy phone, buy SIM, done. No contracts, no carrier bloat.
Yes, and along with phoning home comes the warning that they’ll likely deny any future warranty claims should your brand new (rooted) phone have a fault.
Hopefully we’ll still see unlock methods that don’t phone home still coming from the community.
I’ve got an HTC Rezound and I’ve been seriously considering getting a Galaxy Nexus instead. I almost went today before I saw this.
Don’t get me wrong, I am glad HTC is making this an option. I just hope they stick with it. I wish Samsung would follow suit, especially on the Galaxy Tab (original, 7″) since they are now contemplating crippled updates instead of ICS, if that, for future updates.
If they are not going to release new updates they should provide unlocks and let the community take over. I’d love to see MIUI on my VZW tab.
Edited 2011-12-29 07:34 UTC
Not gonna happen. Manufacturers are too afraid the community will make their older devices so good, people won’t want to buy their newer devices.