[Evidence] Samsung might have some kind of HTC devs bootloader type unlock system.

[ethanscooter]

Looks like my new S7 is going on eBay. Glad I kept my M9.

We aren't sure about it just wait. This isn't right to forcefully lock all the phones in the U.S and not give us any method of unlocking if this is the case.

 

[ethanscooter]

Yeah its terrible , but thats the case, tmobile, verizon and sprint confirmed so far.

Where are they confirmed? The representatives are imbeciles.

 

[Tenchi4U]

We aren't sure about it just wait. This isn't right to forcefully lock all the phones in the U.S and not give us any method of unlocking if this is the case.

Not right or not legal? I've noticed larger companies care less and less about the former as long as sales for 99% of the generic public is unaffected.

Even if I do have to sell the S7, I'm not out too much, got in on the bogo deal and got my wife off an ancient iphone and off of incredibad Sprint. And free VRgear * 2

 

[ethanscooter]

Even though he is from Seoul and he probably could care less nor respond I want to ask @arter97 about his opinion.

 

[ethanscooter]

I regret to inform you that at this point you can say the phone you are using if you live in the USA and it's an S7 has a locked bootloader. I can basically confirm this myself.

Sorry for being an idiot and not looking at all the evidence I had right in front of me like the types of ODIN fails we were getting and the chats.

Sorry guys ;(

 

[Alarand]

Samsung support is pretty bad at providing specific technical information at least via chat.

I wouldn't rely on anything they tell you other than maybe pricing information

 

[Tenchi4U]

I regret to inform you that at this point you can say the phone you are using if you live in the USA and it's an S7 has a locked bootloader. I can basically confirm this myself.

Sorry for being an idiot and not looking at all the evidence I had right in front of me like the types of ODIN fails we were getting and the chats.

Sorry guys ;(

I totally get wanting to have hope. Unless something develops in the next few days, it's off to ebay for my "free" S7 (sometime next week) - hope HTC never stops caring about us 0.01%ers.

 

[ethanscooter]

Samsung support is pretty bad at providing specific technical information at least via chat.

I wouldn't rely on anything they tell you other than maybe pricing information

Let's face it! We tested it ourselves and we concluded it was locked but in our denial we decided that we should keep asking. We're just going to have to accept it ;(.

I knew this phone couldn't be perfect.

 

[Alarand]

Let's face it! We tested it ourselves and we concluded it was locked but in our denial we decided that we should keep asking. We're just going to have to accept it ;(.

I knew this phone couldn't be perfect.

Yeah I hadn't read the comments from the other threads, looks like it is locked.

However still, don't trust anything a Samsung rep tells you

 

[gdmlaz]

Question doesn't this unlock the bootloader ??? I Remember we had this issue on the galaxy 5 ??? CAN A DEV LOOK AT THIS ???? ASAP

 

[ethanscooter]

Question doesn't this unlock the bootloader ??? I Remember we had this issue on the galaxy 5 ??? CAN A DEV LOOK AT THIS ???? ASAP

That just turns the FRP lock off we already tried that, did our tests, nothing.

Read everything, sir. Even the Verizon S7s and S6s have that.

To answer your question, no it does not.

 

[gdmlaz]

That just turns the FRP lock off we already tried that, did our tests, nothing.

Read everything, sir. Even the Verizon S7s and S6s have that.

To answer your question, no it does not.

Then we are official F..... lol RIP

 

[ethanscooter]

This new chat is weird... Something isn't right here...

Chat InformationPlease wait for a Samsung Agent to respond.
Chat InformationYou are now chatting with 'Tapaswi M'. The reference number for this chat is 4305967214. There will be a brief survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.
Tapaswi M: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?
Tapaswi M: Hope we are still connected, please respond so that I can confirm our connection and take care of your concern.
John: Hello
John: sorry
John: So
John: I talked to many different samsung reps
John: and I found out that the U.S Galaxy S7 bootloader is locked (SD820 variants) but not the Exynos variants
John: One rep basically said that samsung will have a way to unlock it
John: For devs
Tapaswi M: Hello John.
John: somewhat like what HTC has
John: is this correct?}
John: ?*
Tapaswi M: I will help you with required information regarding the bootloader.
John: Thank you
Tapaswi M: You're welcome.
Tapaswi M: I have check the details for you and would like to inform you that, we in live support deal only with the technical troubleshooting of the devices and unfortunately, we are not provided with the information on unlocking the boot loaders.
Tapaswi M: Also, I should inform you that Unlocking your phone’s boot loader voids its warranty and also completely wipes (formats) your Android phone’s internal memory including applications, contacts, SMS and MMS messages etc and may lead to improper functioning of the phone(brick the phone).
Tapaswi M: So Samsung do not recommend or assist unlocking the boot loader on your phone.
John: That's what is making me curious...
John: You guys keep saying this
John: "Also, I should inform you that Unlocking your phone’s boot loader voids its warranty and also completely wipes (formats) your Android phone’s internal memory including applications, contacts, SMS and MMS messages etc and may lead to improper functioning of the phone(brick the phone)."
John: Like you're implying samsung may provide a way for developers to unlock it
John: even though its locked
John: is this correct?
Tapaswi M: Yes, however we have seen few customers who tried to root the phones prior to S7.
John: Like if it was just locked like how Verizon locks their bootloaders there is no way to unlock except for unofficial ways like Sunshine's exploit for the S5
John: thus, no reason to say that
John: Are you implying there will be a way that Samsung will provide to American owners that will allow us to unlock it?
Tapaswi M: I will be right with you.
Tapaswi M: If you wish, I can transfer the chat to my supervisor who may provide you with this information.
John: sure
Tapaswi M: Please wait while I transfer the chat.
John: Alright
Chat InformationPlease wait while I transfer the chat to 'Srikanth M'.
Chat InformationYou are now chatting with 'Srikanth M'. The reference number for this chat is 4305967214. There will be a brief survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.
Srikanth M: Hi John, this is srikanth and I am the floor supervisor.
John: Hello, I had a few questions about the bootloader
John: It's obviously locked in USA and not other countries for some reason.
Srikanth M: Yes, I see your question John.
Srikanth M: Okay.
John: I've concluded this based off of what other people have told me from support chats and my own tests.
John: Samsung reps from live chats are saying this
John: ""Also, I should inform you that Unlocking your phone’s boot loader voids its warranty and also completely wipes (formats) your Android phone’s internal memory including applications, contacts, SMS and MMS messages etc and may lead to improper functioning of the phone(brick the phone).""
John: Thats basically implying that samsung will provide a way to unlock it
John: If the bootloader lock type Samsung was enforcing upon its American S7 owners was like Verizons method of locking their bootloaders then there would be no reason to say that
John: However, it seems like the 2 reps that told me this are implying samsung will have an unlock method in the near future
John: Is this correct?
Srikanth M: Thank you for waiting. I'll be with you in just a moment.
Srikanth M: Let me explain it to you.
Srikanth M: Samsung doesn't provide assistance regarding rooting or unrooting the devices as this has to be done through third party sources which we are unaware of.
Srikanth M: I do understand your concern regarding unlocking the bootloader on S7. However, we ate live chat do not have this information. As of now, Samsung doesn't have an option of unlocking the boot loader.
John: Rooting has nothing to do with my question at the moment. I have no idea why it is only enforced in the United States.
John: Also, do you know why Samsung has not made ANY statement on this?
John: And why this was just discovered by me today after running tests and asking many reps.
John: This should've been public information
Srikanth M: I wish I could help. We ate live chat deal only with troubleshooting part of the devices and have limited information on this.
Srikanth M: I recommend you to contact our voice support for more insights on this John.
Srikanth M: I hope you understand the limitations from our end.
Srikanth M: You can contact our voice support at 1-888-987-4357, Mon-Fri: 7 AM - 2 AM (CST), Sat: 9 AM - 10 PM (CST).
John: So, the bootloaders are locked in the U.S though
John: and not in other countries
John: is this correct?
Srikanth M: We do not have information on non-US devices John and I do not want to set any wrong expectations to you.
John: Okay thanks (I confirmed they aren't locked in Europe along has the XDA community) but that makes me ponder the question as to why only the U.S
John: But thanks anyways

 

[combatmedic870]

WTF IS THIS ****!!! bootloader locked?!?!

 

[ethanscooter]

WTF IS THIS ****!!! bootloader locked?!?!

In the United States only, sorry ;(.

 

[combatmedic870]

Well... This is very disappointing. I was super excited about this phone. Now I'm not very happy with it.

 

[Josh McGrath]

Guess I'll be sticking to my v10 and send this s7 back

 

[hella356]

Finally a phone I consider worthy of replacing my S4, & it's got a locked bootloader? Ugh. Maybe something will change or the Exynos version will work on TMo. If not, I'll be looking at the G4 & M10. And if TMo is no longer going to be ROM friendly, there's not much reason to stick with them after 10+ years.

 

[metalfan78]

This is terrible news. Hopefully samsung provides a way to unlock soon.

 

[coyttl]

Well, f*ck.
If nothing new is released by tomorrow, I'm taking mine back to the store. And if they don't take it back, I'll do a charge-back. I needed something to replace my dying S4.

Looks like I'll take some hints and look at HTC or such now.