why don't cell phone companies want you to root?

[rudeguy]

Its pretty obvious that Google doesn't care (they help out ROM cookers) and I don't think phone manufacturers care nearly as much as the cell phone companies.

What's the gig? My brain is very small and I can't come up with a good reason.

 

[MJinZ]

Taking their data without the extra charge.

Oh wait, you can do that already without a Root.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Tethering and removal of the bloatware.

 

[Cuda1447]

One of the main reasons is if the average consumer rooted, they are more apt to mess up their phone and then do an RMA. RMA's cost the carries and handset manufacturers money. Lots.

 

[Pliablemoose]

One of the main reasons is if the average consumer rooted, they are more apt to mess up their phone and then do an RMA. RMA's cost the carries and handset manufacturers money. Lots.

Yep, I'd love to see the numbeers on the Moto Droids that were RMA'd to Verizon, considering the demographic they were shooting for.

I know a couple of adults with Droids and they've all rooted them and installed modded ROMs.

 

[gorcorps]

One of the main reasons is if the average consumer rooted, they are more apt to mess up their phone and then do an RMA. RMA's cost the carries and handset manufacturers money. Lots.

This is my thought as well. I'm sure there's some money lost through pirated apps, but the majority of it is making the root/jailbreak so easy that people that shouldn't hack phones are trying it and messing them up. They hear rumors about what awesome things you can do, then try it and ruin it.

 

[olds]

I thought I remember reading that it had something to do with their network security.

 

[tatteredpotato]

This is my thought as well. I'm sure there's some money lost through pirated apps, but the majority of it is making the root/jailbreak so easy that people that shouldn't hack phones are trying it and messing them up. They hear rumors about what awesome things you can do, then try it and ruin it.

By this logic then they should be opening these things up so it's safer and easier to root/rom.

Of course that's just a crazy upside-down dream world... The reality is that cell phone companies are just evil and don't want you to be tooo happy

 

[boomhower]

Pretty much everything that is mentioned plays a part. They don't want you and your closest buddies tethering your notebooks. They want you to use their bloatware which most make money off of. They don't want you bricking your phone and sending it in. Rooting is pretty safe. It's the folks who get impatient and do a battery pull at the worst possible time that brick them. Plus, they want control. Also OTA updates that improve performance, security, etc are possible on non-rooted stock roms and not customs.

 

[gsaldivar]

They want to maintain some amount of control over the ways that you connect to their network. They want you locked into whatever sponsored adware apps that they are getting kickbacks to install for you. They want you to be locked into the features that the device sold with, and purchase upgraded devices from them instead of software upgrading on your own. They want you keep you hooked on new devices by continuously renewing your annual contract. They ultimately want to protect at all costs, a very lucrative revenue stream.

 

[Bateluer]

One of the main reasons is if the average consumer rooted, they are more apt to mess up their phone and then do an RMA. RMA's cost the carries and handset manufacturers money. Lots.

I don't think those numbers would be significant in the big picture. Everyone rooting and installing custom ROMs fully understands that it voids their warranty, and every ROM I've ever flashed very obviously informs the user of this.

It comes down to control. If the consumer has root and an open boot loader, they can take ownership of the device instead of renting it from the carrier. In effect, they can render the carrier to the status of a 'dumb pipe' rather than a content provider. This is good for the consumer. Not enough people realize this or care enough to actually act. Any phone that denies root access or that ships with an encrypted boot loader should not be purchased. Simple as that.

 

[MJinZ]

I don't think those numbers would be significant in the big picture. Everyone rooting and installing custom ROMs fully understands that it voids their warranty, and every ROM I've ever flashed very obviously informs the user of this.

It comes down to control. If the consumer has root and an open boot loader, they can take ownership of the device instead of renting it from the carrier. In effect, they can render the carrier to the status of a 'dumb pipe' rather than a content provider. This is good for the consumer. Not enough people realize this or care enough to actually act. Any phone that denies root access or that ships with an encrypted boot loader should not be purchased. Simple as that.

Unless you're buying an unlocked GSM world phone, this does not apply. Even if you could make your Droid grow a pair of wings and fly, it would still work only on Verizon.

 

[Cuda1447]

I don't think those numbers would be significant in the big picture. Everyone rooting and installing custom ROMs fully understands that it voids their warranty, and every ROM I've ever flashed very obviously informs the user of this.

It comes down to control. If the consumer has root and an open boot loader, they can take ownership of the device instead of renting it from the carrier. In effect, they can render the carrier to the status of a 'dumb pipe' rather than a content provider. This is good for the consumer. Not enough people realize this or care enough to actually act. Any phone that denies root access or that ships with an encrypted boot loader should not be purchased. Simple as that.

Trust me, the RMA #'s are significant. I actually got this line of reasoning from a mid level executive within HTC. (I work for T-Mobile, met him at a T-Mobile/HTC event). I don't have specific #'s, would love to, but the concerns are there.

If rooting is extremely easy and everyone starts tinkering with their phones, without going through the hassle of learning what they are doing, then you'll have people over/underclocking past safe points. Increasing volume outputs to the point you have blown speakers. Flashing new radios without verifying the file is complete and proper, thus bricking phones, etc etc... There are a myriad of problems associated with rooting risks.

 

[herkulease]

I'm gonna go with bloatware. I'm very sure they get a cut somewhere with them being preinstalled.

I have no use on the droid X for BLockbuster, amazon mp3, kindle app, city id.

I'd like to remove them with rooting but I'm personally lazy. even witht he 1 click solution. good thing launcherpro has a hide option so I hide them and a few others I don't use.

 

[rudeguy]

So then...if you successfully root your phone without breaking it, do they care?

 

[Pliablemoose]

So then...if you successfully root your phone without breaking it, do they care?

Yep, because of the bloatware & tethering...

 

[tommo123]

i have my desire rooted and am loving neophytes sense rom. i'm on an 18 month contract and at that time (presumable to a dual 2ghz monster) i'll get a new phone but it will be one i can root and get custom roms for. custom roms are superior to stock.

i don't overclock mine, i underclock it with profiles as my battery drops. i just wish HTC et al just released a ruu that would run from a pc and take you back to stock if you fucked it all up. screwing a rom is recoverable, it's only (afaik) doing something like yanking the battery out while upgrading the radio that really bricks it.

anyway, the guys over @ xda have my faith that late next year i'll be able to get root on my next phone

 

[JS80]

My opinion on reasons and order of importance:
1) Future revenues lost from pirate apps
2) Increased support cost
3) Security fears

 

[cbn]

They don't want you and your closest buddies tethering your notebooks.

I'm still having a hard time believing service providers will be able to levy full charges on each internet device carried.

Especially with these new upcoming Tablets being so small and thin I can definitely see people wanting to use them over a smart phone for internet browsing.

 

[cbn]

Unless you're buying an unlocked GSM world phone, this does not apply. Even if you could make your Droid grow a pair of wings and fly, it would still work only on Verizon.

Just wondering, does the technology behind 4G have provisions to eliminate the need for carrier specific handsets.

For example, I think the current Verizon handsets are nice but wouldn't they hold more value if after 2-3 years time it could be used on a lower priced network? (I recently found out flashing MetroPCS firmware on a Sprint or Verizon phone allows voice, but the ability to surf the web becomes disabled.)

 

[BaboonGuy]

Taking their data without the extra charge.

Oh wait, you can do that already without a Root.

Can you explain more? Not that I want to exploit ATT but I'm curious. I have a rooted Captivate and I used Wireless Tether for some 70MB last night and my ATT *DATA# command showed that I had only used 20MB.... so I was like, wtf?