[NEWS] Motorola Photon 4G has a locked bootloader, :(

Now yesterday’s excitement has worn off from the Sprint-Motorola press event, it’s time for the bad news. Contrary to what we were told, the Motorola Photon 4G will launch with a locked bootloader.
Here’s what Motorola said:

As previously communicated, it is our intention to include the unlockable/relockable bootloader in software releases starting in late 2011, where operator and channel partners will allow it. However, this feature is not included in the software found on PHOTON 4G. - Motorola

In other words, you won’t see Motorola release an unlocked Android phone until this Fall. Which is really a shame, since other OEMs are already working around the clock to release unlocked devices in the near future. Add to this that MotoBlur is the least popular flavor of Android and that new phones like the Droid X2 fail to impress us, and we have to wonder if Motorola is losing its touch with the Android community.

Will Motorola unlock the Photon 4G’s bootloader via a software update in the future? Nobody knows. But if a locked bootloader is a deal-breaker for you, I’d recommend taking a wait-and-see approach with the Photon 4G. Or you could just take a look at other unlocked phones from a certain company that starts with an “H”.

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