verizon are such jerks

Rani the excuse they are using is that you are hacking "their" software/ firmware, and you never actually "own" either. Same idea, if you are a programmer, it's illegal to improve Microshaft or any other software which is not "open source" on your own.

Many of the ham (amateur radio operators) pretty much hate Motorola over the same thing. Even if I was to find an old, out of date Motorola radio and figure out a way to "hack" the firmware, it is (in some cases) considered illegal under Motorola licensing. Now bear in mind that this concerns a device which is obsolete and has no real commercial/ public service use or value.

I have not kept up on the B.S. that "is" cell phones/ devices. It's way way too complicated for me to understand.