Motorola announced today that it has added the international versions of the DROID RAZR HD and the RAZR i to its list of devices that are supported in its bootloader unlock program. Of course, the list wasn’t really much a list to begin with, featuring only the PHOTON Q 4G LTE and the developer editions of the RAZR HD and the RAZR M. We’re seeing Motorola take a step in the right direction with these additions to the program though, and that can’t be understated.
For those who aren’t familiar with Moto’s bootloader unlock program, it’s essentially a service users can take advantage of to unlock the bootloader on their phone through official means, giving them a level of access to the hardware that they can’t normally get with a locked phone. Motorola provides the tools to unlock the bootloader, but doing so will void the warranty on the phone. Most people who want to unlock their phone’s bootloader don’t care much about voiding their warranty, but it’s still a caveat that Motorola goes to great lengths to stress.
Droid Life points out that most people in the US won’t be able to take advantage of Motorola’s bootloader unlock program unless they’re willing to shell out full price for a carrier-unlocked version of the RAZR HD or the RAZR i. The European, Latin American, Australian, and Rogers versions of the RAZR HD are eligible for the bootloader unlock program, while the RAZR i is eligible worldwide, but if you’re living in the US, don’t expect your phone to be eligible if it’s carrier-subsidized.
As stated above, it’s good to see Motorola doing this, and we’re hoping that the company begins adding more of its phones to this list soon. If you want to see more, a good way of letting Motorola know would be to purchase the developer editions of the RAZR HD or the RAZR M here in the United States – it’ll be a little on the expensive side, but by purchasing one of those handsets, you’ll be showing Moto that you support its decision to offer a bootloader unlock program.
