It hasn’t been more than a few months since HTC announced via their Facebook page that, thanks to a very vocal minority, they would no longer be “locking down” or encrypting the bootloaders on their future devices. Since then, we’ve seen a few devices launch with encrypted bootloaders but HTC continued to promise they would be unlocking these devices in a future update rolling out sometime around September. With the Android modding community growing restless, once again HTC took to their Facebook page with an explanation on this future update and what to expect from them come August/September.

**UPDATE 8/3/2011**

Since our last update, many of you have asked how the bootloader unlocking process will actually work, and in particular why HTC’s most recently released devices still have a locked bootloader. Rest assured we’re making progress toward our goal to roll out the first software updates in August to support unlocking for the global HTC Sensation, followed soon by the HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile and the HTC EVO 3D on Sprint. Because unlocking the bootloader provides extensive control over the device and modifications may cause operation, security and experience issues, new devices will continue to ship locked but will support user-initiated unlocking using a new Web-based tool.

So how will this work? The Web tool, which will launch this month, requires that you register an account with a valid e-mail address and accept legal disclaimers that unlocking may void all or parts of your warranty. Then plug in your phone to a computer with the Android SDK loaded to retrieve a device identifier token, which you can then enter into the Web tool to receive a unique unlock key via e-mail. Finally, apply the key to your device and unlocking will be initiated on your phone.

We’re excited to bring bootloader unlocking to developers and enthusiasts, and we feel this new Web tool will meet your needs and continue to provide customers with the best experience. Thanks to the community for supporting these efforts!

Wow. That sounded exceptionally easy. With this new web-based tool, even the biggest of noobs should have no trouble unlocking and subsequently rooting their shiny new HTC devices. This is the future, folks. It’s going to be exciting to see what comes out of this and if this will have a huge impact on future HTC sales. Makes the HTC Vigor seem all the more attractive, doesn’t it?

[Via Facebook]