I wanted to make this petition for all the people who bought the Verizon Moto E LTE that wanted to install root, custom ROMs, and custom recoveries . I bought this device because it 1. was GSM unlocked, 2. had support from the people on XDA. I tried Motorola's bootloader unlock portal, and sadly... It didn't work. So, here I am posting a petition for something that shouldn't have happened in the first place. Everyone at XDA who dearly loves their freedom of customization in Android, please sign this petition.
Petition Link
This petition isn't going anywhere, so I'm afraid I have to close it. Verizon and Motorola can refuse to the petition.
I will be closing this thread soon, so all Verizon Moto E users might just have to give up until jcase/sunshine team finds a way to unlock the bootloader. That means you have to pay twenty-five dollars. It's sad that Motorola and Verizon cannot unlock bootloaders. This is outrageous because we as a consumer have a right to modifying OUR devices. It doesn't belong to Verizon or Motorola because we paid upfront 40 bucks for it (at least in BestBuy). It is a prepaid device on Verizon and we should have the right to modify it. Now are you with me!?
Verizon mandates that the bootloaders be locked - the Verizon prepaid devices are subsidized and they don't want you to be able to easily modify them to use on other networks. This petition will have no effect.
Thread closed... pointless?
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Hi I have an opportunity of buying one of these and understand from elsewhere that: 'All Motorola phones locked to Verizon Wireless (USA) are not supported for unlocking. Do not purchase the unlock service if your DROID 3 is locked to Verzion. '
Which strongly indicates to stay away from it?
The current owner says:
I brought the unlock code but it has already been entered wrong to many times and is now subsidy locked. I have already spent nearly $600 on this phone Is there any way to unlock it?
If there is, can anyone point me to the resource url or give advice thanks vm.
Alistair.
Droid 3s can he unlocked to be used on GSM carriers outside of the US.
In the US it can only be used on CDMA.
Edit: This is the Droid X forum, you may get more answers over in the Droid 3 forum.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
UPDATED: MODs could you please move this to the Q/A section if it is in the wrong section? Sorry for the confusion.
What are the major differences between the Razr M: Developer Edition vs Regular besides the bootloader being officially unlocked?
Is it possible to take the phone and activate it on a non-Verizon CDMA/LTE network? Anyone care to try and bring it to a non-Verizon network and see what the non-Verizon customer service reps do or say?
There are three ways to purchase the RAZR M (at least in the US) - Links will take you to the order pages:
1) Subsidized on contract for $99 from Verizon
2) Off contract from Verizon for $549
3) Developer edition from Motorola direct for $549
Options 1 and 2 are the RETAIL version of the RAZR M. This means that unless the dev community finds a way to "break" the boot loader and/or root the device, it will remain as-is and will only get updates from Motorola.
The Dev Edition's (option 3) boot loader can be unlocked.
The Moto page to unlock the boot loader is here: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/standalone/bootloader/unlock-your-device-a
There is no time limit as to when you can get the unlock code, but I would imagine Motorola reserves the right to change that policy at any time... meaning at some point it is possible they could shut down the site, but I do not see that happening any time soon.
You could generate the unlock code so you have it, but that does not mean you have to unlock your bootloader immediately. The unlock code is keyed to your device ID so it will not change even if Motorola upgrades the SW in the future. So, just to be safe you could generate the unlock code then use it in 6 months or 6 years from now.
That being said, as soon as you go through with the steps to obtain an unlock code, your device effectively goes on a "black list" with Motorola. You warranty is void EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT APPLIED THE UNLOCK CODE. If you have issues with your device it would be Motorola's discretion whether to offer free service, fee-based service, or no service at all if you have a problem.
I have verified with Motorola that even if you have unlocked your boot loader, you will still get Motorola's OTA SW updates, but there is no guarantee they will work, especially if you have rooted and/or modified the core operating system in any way.
ETA:
I also verified with Verizon that all the RAZR M phones (regardless of retail, subsidized, or dev edition) are unlocked for all International GSM carriers out of the gate. While they will not work with US GSM carriers (AT&T and T-Mobile) anywhere else in the world should be ok. Please note though, LTE will not work outside of Verizon's reach.
I hope that helps.
So I am going to buy a probably used Galaxy S5, most likely from Swappa.com and I am going to activate it with Metro PCS, which is a GSM carrier, so I know I need a GSM carrier GS5, like from AT&T or T-Mobile. I did a bit of googling and I only ended up with more questions... Are the AT&T and T Mobile versions of the GS5 carrier locked? From what I read online, the ATT is locked and the Tmobile is unlocked, but I cant be certain from the couple forum posts I could only find. If the phone is already unlocked, I can just bring it into the Metro PCS store and activate it, right?
Now, what if it is locked? Can I carrier unlock it myself? How do I do that? Do I really need to buy an unlock code online? Seems kinda sketchy to buy these codes from random unlocking sites, but if I have to...? Also, can I have it unlocked by Metro PCS or T-Mobile or ATT?
Next part of my question is about the bootloader. Again, I did some research, but found only one relatively... relevant forum post. So I come here for direct help. I was chatting with AT&T tech support on their site asking about the bootloader.
Anyways, ATT told me the bootloader on their GS5's are encrypted locked. What about TMobiles version? Supposedly if they are encrypted, there is near to no chance of really getting that unlocked. Although, if they are not encrypted, would they be able to be unlocked? I have no idea about T-Mobile having a locked bootloader or not.
Lastly, has the bootlader been unlocked already for any GS5? I ask because ive seen some GS5's with custom ROM's and launchers and stuff, but last I heard, they were still locked.
You didn't do much "research" via Google or searching this forum or you'd already have the answers your are looking for. These questions have been asked and answered innumerable times.
Very few carriers other than ATT and Verizon lock bootloaders. TMB's bootloader is not locked. Generally speaking, TMB model has the most GSM bands and is arguably the most desirable model but you need to check whether those include the bands you need with the carrier you plan to use. Do that by checking and comparing the bands that both carriers use or simply find out what S5 model your carrier uses itself.
Most phones, incuding TMB, ATT, et al are SIM locked. But you can easily get a third party vendor to provide an unlock code for about $20 and thereafter use it on another carrier.
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fffft said:
You didn't do much "research" via Google or searching this forum or you'd already have the answers your are looking for. These questions have been asked and answered innumerable times.
Very few carriers other than ATT and Verizon lock bootloaders. TMB's bootloader is not locked. Generally speaking, TMB model has the most GSM bands and is arguably the most desirable model but you need to check whether those include the bands you need with the carrier you plan to use. Do that by checking and comparing the bands that both carriers use or simply find out what S5 model your carrier uses itself.
Most phones, incuding TMB, ATT, et al are SIM locked. But you can easily get a third party vendor to provide an unlock code for about $20 and thereafter use it on another carrier.
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Click to collapse
Sorry, this is just totally new to me. Ive never had an android device other than a Nexus 7 I was gifted that i hardly use. Ive never even had a smartphone, so Ive had to find and absorb all this info about rooting, bootloaders, unlocking. Its been kinda mind boggling. So in the meantime after I posted this I pieced together this info.. I hope I am corrrect:
-AT&T and Verizon have been locking their bootloaders for a while and everyone hates them for that
-Any GSM carrier phone can be unlocked to work with any other GSM carrier
-CDMA cannot be unlocked at all
Kinda iffy on this one, not 100% sure... -Rooting is the same as unlocking the bootloader. If the bootloader is not encrypted, the phone can be rooted and custom ROM's/recoveries can be installed.
-Supposedly Verizon and AT&T GS5's can now be rooted... (cant link to outisde links, but just search "How to Root ANY Samsung Galaxy S5 Variant (Even AT&T & Verizon) in 20 Seconds Flat" and its the first link.
Based off this new info I have gathered... I want a T-Mobile GS5 (or AT&T if they can in fact be rooted and have custom ROM's installed on them). I will have to carrier unlock it myself unless it is already unlocked (someone on Swappa.com says they are selling a "factory unlocked" T-Mobile GS5 for $480, so I guess T-Mobile also sells carrier unlocked versions). I will unlock it using a code from theunlockingcompany website for $40 (seems like a steep price, but supposedly its the best site to use). I will then unlock it with the code which should take a couple minutes after I get the code, code taking up to 5 hours to arrive in my email. I will then have to take it in store to Metro PCS (hopefully I can do it online too if I order the SIM card online to ship to me for $10) to have it activated with them and get service. Then it should be activated, have my phone number, have cell and data service, paid/pay $40 a month. All is well in the world.
Is that info I discovered above true, what about the steps I should go through in the last section, above?
DannyDee15 said:
Is that info I discovered above true
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Click to collapse
I wouldn't know where to begin. Yes, a TMB phone is ideal IMO for ATT because it covers all of the ATT frequencies and then some, plus has an unlocked bootloader. Most of the rest you have wrong.
Any GSM carrier phone can be unlocked to work with any other GSM carrier
No. You can unlock phones, but models will seldom work well on a different carriers frequency allotment.
CDMA cannot be unlocked at all
Not true.
Rooting is the same as unlocking the bootloader.
They are not the same thing.
If the bootloader is not encrypted, the phone can be rooted
Not correct. You can root phones with locked (encrypted) bootloaders.
Supposedly Verizon and AT&T GS5's can now be rooted
Almost any Android with a pre-June6th firmware build can be rooted.
so I guess T-Mobile also sells carrier unlocked versions
Nope.
I don't know how you managed to adopt so much misinformation. I can only assume that you haven't done much reading yet and /or made a lot of assumptions. You should read some of the sticky posts to get a better general understanding of how everything fits together. Then you can pose more informed questions.
It has nothing to do with being new to smartphones. You just thought that it was easier to ask than to do a proper search or puzzle out a few confusing points. It would be in your own best interests to do some reading, but whether you do or not is entirely up to you.
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I have a Verizon RAZR MAXX XT912 that is unlocked, rooted, BRAND new and completely useless to me (other than to pay Verizon upwards of a grand and then some) that I'd like to trade for a model I can use on another US carrier. XT907/926 etc. I'd also sell it to fund a new purchase of a usable one, so anyone in International GSM territory that wants a new phone for a moderate price hit me up!
shouldbeshroomin said:
I have a Verizon RAZR MAXX XT912 that is unlocked, rooted, BRAND new and completely useless to me (other than to pay Verizon upwards of a grand and then some) that I'd like to trade for a model I can use on another US carrier. XT907/926 etc. I'd also sell it to fund a new purchase of a usable one, so anyone in International GSM territory that wants a new phone for a moderate price hit me up!
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Click to collapse
http://swappa.com/
I apologize for questioning but when I left the xt912 scene it was not unlockable neither bootloader nor us gsm.... Have things changed? I was under the impression that things would not be likely to change... That the xt912 would never be boot loader unlocked nor us gsm unlockable... Would you be kind enough to point me to the forum or topic of how to do these things for the xt912…?
We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves.
I read the post where someone asked about an unlocked Moto Z Force, and I met with the Moto rep at Verizon today who again said that it would be a Verizon exclusive, but I think we might have something with the thought that eventually, there will be a "Force Pure" (for lack of a real term of what it would be called) being sold directly through Moto, like the 2015 Pure was. I have AT&T and want to stay with them AND get a "Force Pure" model that will allow me to easily unlock the bootloader and use one of the many root options already available. I know the regular Z model will get an unlocked version for GSM carriers in September, but Verizon can't truly hold the Force model all to themselves forever..... right?
We also have people like this claiming to sell "unlocked GSM Moto Z Force" phones on eBay, when they probably just mean carrier unlocked, which isn't nearly as hard as bootloader unlocked.
And speaking of not knowing what we're talking about when we mean "unlocked," can we all learn the difference between the developer option to allow the bootloader to be unlocked and the NEXT step required to actually unlock it? With the Moto X Pure, you must start by selecting that option, go on Moto's website, give them your phone's info, and THEN the phone can be bootloader unlocked - the Verizon locked phones will never get that unless devs find the hack around it. If you are confused on any of what I said, then learn how it's done on the Moto X Pure here, which is a whole lot longer than just flipping the switch on the developer option.... Lots of people here seem to think that's how it works, so I'm addressing it here before someone incorrectly says that it is already available - which it isn't and won't be on Verizon....
Unlocked bootloader .....never gonna happen but sim unlocked for GSM? It already has
thyrellik said:
Unlocked bootloader .....never gonna happen but sim unlocked for GSM? It already has
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Click to collapse
Please read my actual question again before even bringing up SIM unlocking.... what makes you so sure that the upcoming GSM-only model sold directly by Moto won't ever be able to be bootloader unlocked? Or are you just speculating based on the current Verizon offerings?
The Verizon moto z and z force is carrier unlock, free to use on any gsm. I'm using a z force on cricket. And there is no way to unlock bootloader for these phone.
Only the moto z gsm version coming in September can have bootloader unlock.