Verizon on bootloaders

[UrsusVIIILXXXVII]

I know Verizon's stance on locked bootloaders is nothing new but does this filing mean VZW thinks the FCC is that dumb or that the FCC is really that ignorant.

http://www.droid-life.com/2012/02/29/letter-from-verizon-to-fcc-details-their-stance-on-bootloaders/#more-63166

Honestly, how can an unlocked bootloader negatively impact their network? My locked down DX still tethers without a hitch. Why is my hope of intelligent people at the FCC constantly being dashed?

 

[Yeahha]

I don't see anything wrong with the letter. Flashing roms does make it difficult for vzw to service the customer so that point is valid. Also most devices can't wifi tether stock and require specific apps to USB tether. Someone is more likely to use more tethered data when they can wifi tether because the amount of devices it can connect to.

 

[UrsusVIIILXXXVII]

I have a locked bootloader however I can still do all of those things Verizon mentioned in the letter. I just have a hard time believing that Verizon thinks a locked bootloader prevents any kind of modification.

It seems more likely to me that whoever typed that letter doesn't fully understand what they typed. If you were to take out the term bootloader from that letter and replace it with root access or custom ROM or kernel it would make complete sense.

I just don't understand why they tossed bootloader in there if it doesn't have a whole lot to do with the issues they brought up.

Maybe I'm in the minority but if I have an issue while flashing a new ROM or some mod, I don't go running to the nearest VZW store. I come here if I slice off my finger, I'm not going to call the knife maker or the store I bought it from.

 

[Yeahha]

They know it doesn't prevent all kinds of modification. But it does cut it down. You are a minority as are most the people here who root and rom. We also know how to find out how to fix the issue without calling VZW the general public however if they have a phone with an easy way to root and rom and screw it up they will call VZW. If VZW makes it harder it prevents casual users from doing the modifications without doing proper research first.

 

[ylexot]

They know it doesn't prevent all kinds of modification. But it does cut it down.

I doubt that.

You are a minority as are most the people here who root and rom.

True, but I doubt having an unlocked bootloader would change the numbers at all.

We also know how to find out how to fix the issue without calling VZW the general public however if they have a phone with an easy way to root and rom and screw it up they will call VZW. If VZW makes it harder it prevents casual users from doing the modifications without doing proper research first.

Unlocking the bootloader won't make it easier to root/ROM, it will just allow more flexibility in the ROMs. And they could very easily say that if you ROM your phone, you're SOL.

 

[Yeahha]

When someone calls a carrier with a question about tech support with their phone a response of "too bad so sad you shouldn't have rooted..." is horrible customer service and a bad experience for the customer. The more difficult they make it to root your phone and flash roms the less people are going to do it. Don't make judgements off of what you see on AF, XDA, Rootz, AC, DF...the majority of people on these sites are the minority of the general population.

The more you have to learn to root the phone the less people are going to do it. Simple risk vs reward. With the Thunderbolt we had a good size root community before an easy root method came out, and then the root community exploded with new users because while they were not comfortable using ADB (even just copy/paste commands) to put an unlocked bootloader on their phone when it came down to just pressing go and the CPU does everything for you they are willing to do so. When it is easy the risk is perceived as lower even if the risk hasn't changed.

Look at how long it took for the DX to get a working bootstrapper, and I am sure there are people who won't rom their DX because the bootstrapper method or switched to an easier device to modify.

With the Gnex which I think as having one of the easiest (if not the easiest) root process of any current phone there are people who won't root because it, but when they had the OG droid rooted and flashed roms no problem because all they had to do to root was press a button on the phone, no messing with ADB at all.

 

[UrsusVIIILXXXVII]

Funny story about calling customer service. I have a friend who, until yesterday was a manager for a Sprint store. He said it was pretty common practice for CS to tell people if they couldn't fix their phone issues to just go to your local store and they will replace it for free. My friend said that when he looked at their phones, most of the time a factory reset was all they needed. However once they were told they could get a new phone that's all they cared about.

He was stuck in a catch 22. He would either end up being reprimanded by his superiors for giving away products or lose a customer for not fulfilling what corporate promised them.

Now I've never called customer support for anything but billing issues but I've never heard of VZW doing what Sprint does.

I've seen multiple threads started by by newbies in rooting asking basic intro questions so I assume even those who never post but want to learn about rooting come across threads stating that you assume all liability when modifying your phone in this way. I know it's not the case for everyone but I do think it's the majority.

I had this couple start up a conversation with me when they saw I had a DX because they had both just recently gotten the same phone. One of them was an iPhone defector and found Android just too complicated. The other complained that her phone was slow and asked if there was a remedy cause she really liked the phone otherwise. I referred her directly to this site. Even bookmarked and installed the forum app on her phone. I told her about a factory reset and rooting to change the ROM. A week later I see them again and she's thanking me up and down for saving her from returning the phone.

It's a shame that what is sometimes the cure is frowned upon by the carriers and manufacturers. I do agree with them in that if you root and mod your phone, you should assume all responsibility but I don't think they should prevent us from doing it.