Samsung Updates has released the official stock firmware for the Verizon version of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S III smartphone. This is great news for ROM modders, hackers, and devs since it now offers the safety net of being able to always get back to stock should things go wrong.
This could lead to great new ROMs being cooked up for the S III, but Verizon users have another barrier to get through first. The bootloader on the Verizon S III appears to be locked, meaning no easy hacking or flashing of unsigned images, and no one has been able to unlock or root it yet. Verizon is known for keeping their phones locked down, with the exception of Google's Galaxy Nexus, and it's unlikely they would change their policies for the S III. Hope is not lost, however, since devs have been known to find loopholes in the past. As more S III's hit the streets, the chances get better that someone will find a way to crack this beast. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Still, the stock firmware is greatly appreciated and a good first step on the road to root.
source: samsung updates
