If you want to know the exact status on Verizon’s stance involving the Samsung Galaxy S3 bootloader, you’ll be pleased to know that the carrier has just spoken. As some of you had feared, Big Red has recently confirmed that Samsung’s latest flagship will be locked away, with the bootloader unavailable for public use.
For those of you that are unaware, an open bootloader essentially means that you can customize your device to your hearts content without any system limitations. Although Verizon provided an open bootloader for the Galaxy Nexus, we’re sad to say that the company has since changed their mood for the upcoming Galaxy S3.
In a detailed statement to TheVerge, Verizon has said that by providing an open bootloader, it essentially means that they could not deliver a high level of customer service and support because modifying the device would result in ‘negatively impacting’ the way the device connects to Verizon’s network’.
They also put a line in there to specifically point out that unapproved software could also negatively impact the wireless experience for other customers, which is a bit hard to believe in our opinion. Basically they don’t want consumers to put custom software on their devices and this statement seems to be the most delicate way of saying it.
Is this a big blow to you if you were thinking of picking up the device, but haven’t yet? The Galaxy S3 on Verizon has already been rooted though don’t forget, so perhaps it isn’t impossible to get custom software on the device if you try hard enough. A locked bootloader definitely makes things more difficult though and now you’ll have to tinker around with your device, knowing that Verizon doesn’t approve of it.
What do you think of their statement? Will you still pick up the Galaxy S3 on their network, or will you now opt for the likes of AT&T or T-Mobile who both have no problems leaving the bootloader open?
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