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HTC unlocks its phones, but probably not just to irk Google
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:56

 

HTC announcHTC unlocks its phonesed that it will continue their association with Google and run Android on its most popular smart phones.

This decision comes in light of Google acquiring HTC’s competitor continuing the trend commenced by Samsung of compelling Google by undertaking techniques that make it simpler for individuals to mess with Android.

Samsung got on board the founder and chief developer of the most well known Android modification firm. The person will work on the company’s smart phone OS development team with a view of making Android more overwhelming.

During the recent past, Google is trying to lock down Android firmly. As a step towards this goal, the company acquired Motorola for some unknown reasons. One possible reason could be to prevent patent trolling from Motorola in case issues arise with Google.

This acquisition may trigger a major shift in the smart phone sector; however, no individual is certain of the possible results.

Yesterday, Nokia released an announcement stating that this combination between Google and Motorola may drive consumers towards Windows Phone 7. This however seems an unlikely event considering that the Windows Phone 7 users are moving to other OS.

 

Although, Samsung made a grand gesture, HTC continues to adhere to its smaller promises. The company earlier in 2011 announced delivering bootloader unlocking tools for several of its popular Android phones.

The program provides owners the access to the OS and system software that is protected by firmware. Moreover, this allows users to change both of these as much as they like.

Most of the phone carriers lock the OS to ensure that customers do not modify the OS. One reason is the reduction of cost incurred on providing support. Another reason being to prevent the corruption between phone links and cell network. Moreover, the carriers prefer to provide the additional software at a higher rate to their users.

Unlocked phones or software installation by users increase the risk of malware attack or system software being corrupted. Most of the bootloader unlock applications provide a technique or a reminder to the users to back up their images available on their phones to restore these with ease if required.

According to HTC CEO Peter Chou, unlocked OS provides the ISVs and the owners to become more involved in developing applications and modules for their phones.

However, HTC had contemplated developing its own OS as a competitor to Android, which is what Samsung has done.