Developer Edition Verizon GSIII with Unlockable Bootloader

Mazomark · Jul 11, 2012

This is really a kick in the privates. Do I return phone now? And if I do, what are chances this developer phone is even available anytime soon. Or keep the one I have and hope the community can open it up.

Here's an idea for you Verizon. Offer an unlock tool. Require us to agree that if we use said unlock tool and brick our phone, we're on our own - no warranty. I'd bet a lot of people would take you up on that. Verizon doesn't have to provide customer service to bricks caused by noobs trying to install a GSM custom ROM. And people who really want the freedom to customize their own phone will have that freedom. Everybody wins.

KevTN · Jul 11, 2012

What a crock!! This shows that they can sell an unlocked boot loaded phone n VZW...

Hey Verizon and Samsung guess screw ya both..

Imatoasta · Jul 11, 2012

Anybody down for a raid of the Samsung servers that house the boot loader key? I'll bring the crow bar.

E30kid · Jul 11, 2012

This is awesome for me as I don't want to use an upgrade (unlimited data) and I have an iPhone 4S to sell. I should be able to get a 32GB for around $200 out of pocket. I was just about to trade my 4S for a Galaxy Nexus before this news because of the locked bootloader.

I still don't understand why Verizon decided that locking the bootloader was a good idea. Why did they feel the need to be the only carrier on the planet who was dumb enough to pull this stuff?

Also, to the people who are saying that this is a money-making scheme by Verizon, this thing is being sold on Samsung's own site, so I'm not sure how Verizon will make money on this deal.

inm8num2 · Jul 11, 2012

E30kid said:
Also, to the people who are saying that this is a money-making scheme by Verizon, this thing is being sold on Samsung's own site, so I'm not sure how Verizon will make money on this deal.

By having people not leave their network?

Gadgetz · Jul 11, 2012

E30kid said:
Also, to the people who are saying that this is a money-making scheme by Verizon, this thing is being sold on Samsung's own site, so I'm not sure how Verizon will make money on this deal.

So Verizon won't be making any money off the monthly costs of customers will have to pay to use their service?

Neverendingxsin · Jul 11, 2012

My guess for the reason why Verizon wouldn't sell it as an unlocked phone is because then they have to honor your warranty, problems, etc. But if you have to buy it through Samsung then Verizon doesn't have to deal with any of that.

E30kid · Jul 11, 2012

inm8num2 said:
By having people not leave their network?

Gadgetz said:
So Verizon won't be making any money off the monthly costs of customers will have to pay to use their service?

People framed it as some sort of scheme where Verizon would be making much more money than they normally would. It's assumed that they would be making money off of people on their service, but I don't believe that they are all too worried about people like us on XDA, otherwise they would have released it with an unsigned bootloader like everyone else.

This seems more like something that Samsung did to save face and to sell additional phones to people like us.

Neverendingxsin said:
My guess for the reason why Verizon wouldn't sell it as an unlocked phone is because then they have to honor your warranty, problems, etc. But if you have to buy it through Samsung then Verizon doesn't have to deal with any of that.

This explanation seems to make the most sense overall.

Gadgetz · Jul 11, 2012

E30kid said:
People framed it as some sort of scheme where Verizon would be making much more money than they normally would. It's assumed that they would be making money off of people on their service, but I don't believe that they are all too worried about people like us on XDA, otherwise they would have released it with an unsigned bootloader like everyone else.

This seems more like something that Samsung did to save face and to sell additional phones to people like us.

This explanation seems to make the most sense overall.

Verizons stance on locked bootloaders is that it's a security issue. Just seems awfully hypocritical with the release of this device.

mattydangerfox · Jul 11, 2012

I still want Verizon to explain what is so different about their network that needs to be protected by locking the bootloader. Is there something they know that every other provider doesn't? It's such a joke.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

inm8num2 · Jul 11, 2012

Neverendingxsin said:
My guess for the reason why Verizon wouldn't sell it as an unlocked phone is because then they have to honor your warranty, problems, etc. But if you have to buy it through Samsung then Verizon doesn't have to deal with any of that.

But doesn't rooting void the warranty? If so your point doesn't stand.

If someone complains to Verizon about a rooted phone, their claim is nullified because they violated the warranty. So it doesn't make a difference either way.

This is all just business. Samsung agreed to Verizon's terms then convinced them to allow selling unlocked phones separately. What Samsung should really have done is tell Verizon to get lost because the GS3 would sell well on the other carriers. Maybe they did try to leverage that and Verizon didn't bite...I don't know.

cell128 · Jul 11, 2012

I got a question. Lets say u buy one of these phones with unlock able bootloader wont we still need to flash Verizon specific roms? I don't think there will be a strong development community because not everyone wants to spend $600 for they're device

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Neverendingxsin · Jul 11, 2012

cell128 said:
I got a question. Lets say u buy one of these phones with unlock able bootloader wont we still need to flash Verizon specific roms? I don't think there will be a strong development community because not everyone wants to spend $600 for they're device

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

This phone will be identical to the current verizon one except for the unlockable bootloader. So any rom made for the one with a locked bootloader will work on this one. Having the developer one will just make flashing roms, kernels, etc a whole lot easier. For anybody that bought the phone at full retail anyways (like myself) buying from samsung is just better since we already have to spend full retail.

Also the developer phone would be the phone that a lot of the ROM dev's use to make there rom's.

tailsthecat3 · Jul 11, 2012

Gadgetz said:
Verizons stance on locked bootloaders is that it's a security issue. Just seems awfully hypocritical with the release of this device.

Samsung is releasing/selling it. Not Verizon.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium via Verizon Wireless

tonictonic · Jul 11, 2012

tailsthecat3 said:
Samsung is releasing/selling it. Not Verizon.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium via Verizon Wireless

Verizon may not be selling it but they are still letting it on their network. That's the whole point.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

demarcmj · Jul 11, 2012

inm8num2 said:
But doesn't rooting void the warranty? If so your point doesn't stand.

If someone complains to Verizon about a rooted phone, their claim is nullified because they violated the warranty. So it doesn't make a difference either way.

This is all just business. Samsung agreed to Verizon's terms then convinced them to allow selling unlocked phones separately. What Samsung should really have done is tell Verizon to get lost because the GS3 would sell well on the other carriers. Maybe they did try to leverage that and Verizon didn't bite...I don't know.

They still waste a lot of time and money troubleshooting issues with phones that they don't know are rooted. Nobody is gonna call in and say "I rooted my phone and now it doesn't get past the bootloader. Helllp!" (Or if they do, they are idiots).

This is why they should make a sanctioned unlock, where you agree that your warranty will be voided.

lowandbehold · Jul 11, 2012

Neverendingxsin said:
This phone will be identical to the current verizon one except for the unlockable bootloader. So any rom made for the one with a locked bootloader will work on this one. Having the developer one will just make flashing roms, kernels, etc a whole lot easier. For anybody that bought the phone at full retail anyways (like myself) buying from samsung is just better since we already have to spend full retail.

Also the developer phone would be the phone that a lot of the ROM dev's use to make there rom's.

So you think there is going to be a ton of devs that come $600 out of pocket to purchase a phone? There MIGHT be a few devs that buy it, but that will hardly make a difference. People considering purchasing this need to think twice about it. They are going to be flashing the same ROM's as the locked down ones! So why put more money in Verizon's pocket?!?!

Elite49 · Jul 11, 2012

If anyone buys this then your nuts. Your giving into VZW and now Samsung. Start sending BBB complaints to both. I want it unlocked but not for $600, I don't care about phones that much.

neyenlives · Jul 11, 2012

lowandbehold said:
So you think there is going to be a ton of devs that come $600 out of pocket to purchase a phone? There MIGHT be a few devs that buy it, but that will hardly make a difference. People considering purchasing this need to think twice about it. They are going to be flashing the same ROM's as the locked down ones! So why put more money in Verizon's pocket?!?!

You are assuming that the same rom that works on the unlocked device will work on the locked ones. I feel that will be the case, but what if there is a hardware measure that enforces the protection?

Sent from my DROIDX using xda premium

lowandbehold · Jul 11, 2012

neyenlives said:
You are assuming that the same rom that works on the unlocked device will work on the locked ones. I feel that will be the case, but what if there is a hardware measure that enforces the protection?

Sent from my DROIDX using xda premium

Not all ROM's made for the unlocked will work on a locked. My reasoning behind that? It is not just the bootloader that is the issue in the Verizon GSIII. The kernel is also encrypted. So why it is still possible to root and install custom ROM's with the locked bootloader, I think the kernel presents the larger issue. It is VERY VERY difficult to get stable AOSP ROM's using the stock kernel. The most you could hope for are some stock based ROM's with Touchwiz removed.

Developer Edition Verizon GSIII with Unlockable Bootloader

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