Motorola is disabling Android phones purchased through unauthorized sellers in Mexico

No_@lemm.ee to Android@lemmy.world – 187 points –
Motorola is disabling Android phones purchased through unauthorized sellers in Mexico
9to5google.com
28

First sale doctrine should forbid this behavior entirely. Once you sold it it's not yours to disable.

The article doesn't say they are offering a refund or replacement phone approved for mexico frequencies... so this is a massive dick move.

Do the phones start to work again if operated outside of Mexico?

Bricking phones by geolocation is massively evil and we should do everything we can to discourage it.

Custom bootloaders, recovery and ROMs are more quickly going from a nerdy gimmick to a necessity.

All the more surprising that Google of all brands makes it so easy to do on their devices

Most of google doesnt care about ongoing hardware sales, so the software teams can do cool things.

Samsungs Fold devices lose their camera functionality if you custom root 😂

Extreme bummer. I am actually dreaming of getting a Fold. Maybe as custom ROMs develop, I am sure it's just they have not yet understood how to properly implement it.

I mean i understand they wanna do something against unauthorized sellers, but fucking consumers in the process is wrong in any way.

It's a joke that a phone provider can lock phones remotely no matter what.

I mean i understand they wanna do something against unauthorized sellers, but fucking consumers in the process is wrong in any way.

Don't pay much attention to me, the end user (Mexican).... but... I have a crazy idea... what about lowering prices? :D

Did you ever think about the rich shareholders who really need the extra money to buy another vacation home in Hawaii?

They realllyyyyyy needd theee moneeeey

I don't know how Mexican laws about computer trespass work, but I think this would be a crime most places.

Devices purchased abroad for use in Mexico, though, will apparently not be disabled

How do they know where they purchased it?

Imei

That might say where the phone is intended to be sold, not where they purchased. As I understood it, Motorola wants to ban foreign phones purchased in Mexico. How can they differentiate them from foreign phones purchased abroad?

Different internal model number?

That says where the phone is intended to be sold, not where it's purchased. As I understood it, Motorola wants to ban foreign phones purchased in Mexico. How can they differentiate them from foreign phones purchased abroad?

When a phone is sold the unique number is submitted. This number is going to come from authorized dealer or an unauthorized dealer.

If a dealer in California submits that IME number, then they can differentiate that from a dealer in Mexico.

30% Discount? You need to give the phone for free or for an extremely low shipment price.

This is a shit move to get money from more financially challenged people at that discount rate. It's not their fault they paid for something they need from an "unauthorized" sellers, and definitely a lot of people don't have the money to buy the phone again but from you.