There's a storm brewing...

[paulmike3]

I think this is veryy solid advice, some twisted part of my brain is hoping they do not announce it and it jsut drops...and then "life" gets in the way for a day or two so I can't drop everything and buy two of them. this way if their are any issues....we are going to know about it right away and then make the choice. The other part of my brain is like "as soon as I hear the news...". Crazy!

There's a 14 day return period. Why not jump on it and return it if it has problems? You'll be missing 2 days of fun that the rest of us get when the device is fine.

Personally, I like that there have been very few hands-on videos and info on the device. I'd rather discover all the cool, lesser known features myself. That doesn't mean I haven't watched every single youtube video from CES though.

 

[eloverton2]

There's a 14 day return period. Why not jump on it and return it if it has problems? You'll be missing 2 days of fun that the rest of us get when the device is fine.

also, im sure if there are problems there will be a firmware update, or update in very short time... also, i'm willing to deal with a short battery life. my three year old phone requires a charge every day as it is- plus, higher capacity batteries for the bolt are already available...

 

[Atrav]

Does anyone if your in a 4g area will you be able to use the TB only on 3g? Reason why I'm asking is because of battery life has me somewhat concerned. I'm sure running on 4g will use battery life much faster than on 3g.

 

[elemerica]

I'd rather a company as large as verizon handle releases appropriately, and get their crap together. Either don't announce a product until it (and the network) is ready, or announce it when its ready. They put all the ads out there and announcements etc and built all this hype, then say "There technically hasn't been any release date"... Then ask for everyone to not talk about it. Frustrating.

Hype is good on something like this; it gets people interested and eager for information and to purchase the phone. As I said, the "general population" has no idea about all these leaked dates etc. They see the Thunderbolt commercial and it gets their interest, they don't know that the phone had a tentative release date in February that got pushed back due to technical issues.

Yes, we know there has not been an "official press release". Each time I've heard someone attempt this arguement (at least 100x in this thread alone), they never mention the official Thunderbolt commercial that said "febrero" at the end? Why is that?

Probably because most of us don't watch Spanish TV or commercials

Verizon's customer base is huge and it probably would have hurt them more to announce something like "Thunderbolt early release postponed due to network/battery issues." To send that message to the entire customer base when the vast majority of those customers were unaware of the potential release date(s) sends a less than ideal message.

Don't misunderstand my post, as I'm just as frustrated as you guys and think that it has been very poorly handled. But I think we're all aware that plans can change anytime.

 

[SFGiants 2010]

Verizon has had these internal delays before, and it will continue to have delays in the future with other phones as well.

Because of tech blogs and forums and internet rumor mills, we've begun to know way too much about what goes on behind closed doors at these massive corporations. More and more consumers are discovering sites like AC, Engadget, Gizmodo, and BGR, and that means more public relations disasters in the future.

I want this phone just as much as you. I created an account here at AC because of this phone. However, I do not blame Verizon for the delay of this phone.

I blame Verizon for having some of the worst public relations management I've seen from a Fortune 500 company. Verizon has failed to acknowledge the massive internet outpouring over this phone, and this kind of archaic public relations policy will eventually hurt them in the future (not with the TBOLT, because who are we kidding, we're all going to buy the damn thing ). Every time Verizon talks about the phone through Twitter or Facebook, it does so with arrogance and snarkiness and it just baffles me how so many highly educated executives feel its a good idea to let this continue for over a month.

Dan Mead (VZW's CEO) is scheduled to speak here at Stanford Business School in May, and I intend fully to ask him about this public relations fiasco. Oh, and I'll also ask him when a dual core HTC LTE piece of sexiness is coming to Verizon and start another rumor for everyone to obsess about .

 

[PJnc284]

Does anyone if your in a 4g area will you be able to use the TB only on 3g? Reason why I'm asking is because of battery life has me somewhat concerned. I'm sure running on 4g will use battery life much faster than on 3g.

I would hope there's a widget or something like the Evo. The LTE areas will still have EVDO support so I don't see why not.

 

[Raptor007]

I'm sure this has already been posted since I seem to be slacking on the posts, but this is a sweet video posted by someone from AC. Just makes me drool.

YouTube - HTC ThunderBolt reader hands-on

Then check out this/www.droidforums.net/forum/htc-thunderbolt/129429-yeah-baby-my-demo-will-here-today.html which I submitted last week as a news bit for Android Central before the weekend. They didn't post it or make any mention of it.

Real world user, answering all questions, not a Verizon employee.

 

[paulmike3]

I would hope there's a widget or something like the Evo. The LTE areas will still have EVDO support so I don't see why not.

Panda confirmed to me that there is an on/off widget for LTE. No worries.

paulmike3: @black_man_x Does the TBolt have a dedicated LTE on/off widget? I assume it does, but can't seem to find that answer... Thanks in advance!

4 Mar in reply to @paulmike3
@black_man_x: @paulmike3 yep.. can turn it off at will

 

[eloverton2]

Does anyone if your in a 4g area will you be able to use the TB only on 3g? Reason why I'm asking is because of battery life has me somewhat concerned. I'm sure running on 4g will use battery life much faster than on 3g.

it'll do both.

Verizon has had these internal delays before, and it will continue to have delays in the future with other phones as well.

why? ATT and Apple set release dates well in advance, and often meet them. And if not, they issue another release date and have at lease some transparency.

I want this phone just as much as you. I created an account here at AC because of this phone. However, I do not blame Verizon for the delay of this phone.

Ditto on creating the account. I thought this phone would be my first great jump to the android world after using my bro's and gf's for years. But I think Verizon is to blame. (Whether they are rumors or not) HTC's release of ads and (supposedly) is displeased with VZ's handling of the situation. Massive companies create a business plan for a reason- which should've taken all these factors (possible delays, the release dates of the iphnone and ipad and ipad2) into account before creating this hype. Other LTE phones were previewed in vegas, but weren't followed by ads and *coming soon...

 

[DroidnOk]

Panda confirmed to me that there is an on/off widget for LTE. No worries.

That's good to know. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jcastag]

The part of this "delay" that I find most interesting and am most concerned about is that it was delayed within days of when it was going to be launched. How is it that the phone made it so far through initial and final testing and everything was acceptable, then suddenly it gets pulled at the last minute.

In my opinion Verizon has some serious issues with the people that do product and software testing. Even with blackberry software updates the versions they approved and released with filled with issues and bugs yet leaked software that they didn't approve worked much better. I never ran Verizon OS on my blackberry because the leaked versions were better in every way. Ironically verizon always said there software approvals took so long due to extensive testing. Lol. Really?

It's at the point where I don't even want the thunderbolt anymore and will stick with my incredible until something extraordinary comes along

 

[ntrimm]

From My VZW Business Rep today. Not sure if its true or not, just relaying the info:


As of right now they are shooting for End of March- Mid-April. I was told this morning by one of our Data managers that they were hoping for a new software update for our beta devices TODAY so our testers can sign off on it.
Tim

From: Neil
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 8:55 AM
To: Tim
Subject: Thunderbolt

Tim,
Whats the latest on this "so-called" phone? We really need to get these other 2 lines transferred soon. Please try and find some concrete information for me on the t-bolt.



Thanks,




Neil

 

[Atrav]

from my vzw business rep today. Not sure if its true or not, just relaying the info:


As of right now they are shooting for end of march- mid-april. I was told this morning by one of our data managers that they were hoping for a new software update for our beta devices today so our testers can sign off on it.
Tim

from: Neil
sent: Monday, march 07, 2011 8:55 am
to: Tim
subject: Thunderbolt

tim,
whats the latest on this "so-called" phone? We really need to get these other 2 lines transferred soon. Please try and find some concrete information for me on the t-bolt.



Thanks,




neil

*head explodes*

 

[Cory Streater]

As long as people don't go overboard, and aren't personally attacking one another because of differences in opinion, I'm inclined to leave this thread open. I think it's fair for everyone to express their views - either way - since a lot of people have been following this from the beginning. Our goal was not to undermine the OP, but to nip the whole "the mods have verified" posts in the bud. It was not only being repeated in this thread, but it was also spreading to other forums. That said, I want the accusations of multiple usernames to stop. Nobody has the ability to determine that except for me.

 

[alcoholics02]

It's working...It's not working......We have solved the issue......We have not solved the issue.....It's ready to go........Its not ready to go...........

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH !

I feel better now Thanks

 

[NCX]

From My VZW Business Rep today. Not sure if its true or not, just relaying the info:


As of right now they are shooting for End of March- Mid-April. I was told this morning by one of our Data managers that they were hoping for a new software update for our beta devices TODAY so our testers can sign off on it.
Tim

From: Neil
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 8:55 AM
To: Tim
Subject: Thunderbolt

Tim,
Whats the latest on this "so-called" phone? We really need to get these other 2 lines transferred soon. Please try and find some concrete information for me on the t-bolt.



Thanks,




Neil

If that becomes true and Sprint shows off the EVO2 at CTIA in about two weeks and its even better than the Tbolt, bye bye Verizon. I'm done playing there delay game if it doesn't come out the 17th

 

[prakash99]

The Big Red is making me SEE Red.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[jayishere]

I tend not to fully believe that, considering we've heard from testers saying that they already have the final firmware ready to go, but who knows.

 

[Rachelmumto7]

Honestly I don't believe the above post about Mid March/Early April release. I have been told that it will be released by the 17th of March. Now thats to be seen so I'm not holding my breath.
I'm new and Ive been waiting for this phone since January.So Im waiting and will continue to do so.I'm just praying that Verizon announces it Tuesday March 8th. From what Ive been told there is supposed to be some type of announcement tomorrow.But then again I'm not holding my breath.

Honestly I'm extremely frustrated.......but I'm not going to another phone. My husband has already ordered everything for me for the Tbolt. Faceplate's,Screen Protectors etc etc and hes getting just as frustrated.He called Verizon this morning and chewed out a manager because theres been no info.The manager then continued to say that Verizon is supposed to announce the phone tomorrow....I honestly dont believe it.I wont till the phones in my hand.

 

[NCX]

The Big Red is making me SEE Red.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

Maybe theres a reason for the Droid eye after all

but yes, if Verizon waits until after CTIA, the ThunderBolt is finished... there will be no point in even launching it, the new devices that will be announced on the 22nd could easily best it at its own game if the rumored specs are true for the EVO3D (3D requires a dual core SoC) and we get excellent coverage around my area with 4G about 55miles away vs the LTE 150+ miles away

Verizon, my faith in you launching this device before my patience runs out is waning...