14 DAY TRIAL // Mobile phone maker Motorola Mobility has decided to launch on shelves new handsets and tablets that would pack unlocked bootloaders, some of the latest reports around the Internet suggest.
We already knew that the company was considering this possibility, but nothing was officially confirmed until now.
However, it seems that the handset vendor indeed made up its mind, and that it decided to bring to the market new handsets that would not have their bootloaders locked, as they did before.
This would enable users easily load on their handsets custom ROMs, which, although unofficial, provide them with features that might have not been included in the official, stock software that came from Motorola in the first place.
According to a recent article on Android Australia, an unnamed source within Motorola said the following:
We completely understand the operator requirement for security to the end user, and as well, want to support the developer communities desire to use these products as a development platform.
It is our intention to enable the unlockable/relockable bootloader currently found on Motorola XOOM across our portfolio of devices starting in late 2011, where carriers and operators will allow it.
This indeed confirmed the company's plans for making the move in the near future, though it was not a proper official confirmation on the matter.
But it seems that things were already put in motion, and, even if specific details are not available at the moment, a company's official also confirmed the move.
Will Moss, director of communications – North Asia, in Motorola Mobility, was the one to provide another statement on this:
I can confirm that the quote you have is accurate, but I can’t add anything at this time other than that further information will be released via MOTODEV (http://www.motorola.com/developer) as it becomes available.
As stated above, having unlocked bootloaders on their handsets would offer users the possibility to install new, custom software on them, which would certainly make Motorola's phones more appealing.
Specific info on what the unlocking on bootloaders would be all about remain shrouded in mystery for the time being, but Motorola might unveil more on this soon, so stay tuned to learn the news.