Motorola PHOTON 4G won't come with unlocked bootloader out of the gate, after all

Asked directly if the newly announced high-end Motorola PHOTON 4G world phone for Sprint will be available with unlocked bootloader, which will simplify developers' efforts to create custom ROMs for the Android handset, the company answered the following:

"Motorola has recognized the passion around this topic in our communities. As we’ve previously communicated, it is our intention to include the unlockable/relockable bootloader in software releases starting in late 2011, where operator and channel partners will allow it. However, this feature is not included in the software found on PHOTON 4G...

It will not contain the unlockable/relockable feature; additional details beyond that will be available when the product comes to market. As you mention, our intent is to enable this feature on devices later this year and we will share updates on that as they become available as well."

So it looks like even with the latest and greatest handsets from Motorola, unlocked bootloaders will be no-show until any firmware or OS updates in late 2011, which could as well mean in time for Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Oh, well, a bit more headaches challenges for the custom ROM crowd until then.

source: DroidLife

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posted on 10 Jun 2011, 02:48

1. Sniggly (Posts: 7305; Member since: 05 Dec 2009)

That's okay; at least they're communicating and answering openly and honestly.

I'm not a programmer, but in my limited research on the subject, the bootloader seems like an essential and fundamental piece of software. If Motorola's software engineers get a single line of code wrong and leave any bugs in, they're going to be looking at a shit ton of bricked devices. Therefore, I'd rather they take the time to get the updates completely right before releasing them. Correct me if I'm wrong.

posted on 10 Jun 2011, 02:49 1

2. spectre1006 (Posts: 54; Member since: 27 Apr 2011)

Wow this came out late for phonearena... most of us are already done complainingabout it in the forums. It does suck tho bout the bootloader... lots of us were hoping if this was unlocked,the bionic would be too...

posted on 10 Jun 2011, 02:53

3. Sniggly (Posts: 7305; Member since: 05 Dec 2009)

Why bitch? They already promised they were going to do it, and Motorola's been pretty good about keeping its promises lately. And the fact that they're promising software updates to unlock the bootloaders means that even older devices will be unlocked as well. If you want the software update to come out quicker, why don't you go volunteer to code for Motorola and convince the carriers it works with to allow the updates to happen?