Thunderbolt Pre Announcement Waiting Room & Availability Thread.

[amotter]

I'm not saying this to be rude or to offend anyone one here, but if you think that any big corp. the size of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc, really give two hoots about you, you are sadly mistaken or delusional, or just simply naive. To switch to another carrier for some of the reason's mentioned above is just plain silly. Honestly, do you think that one of the others really care about you more than the others do? I have been on AT&T, prior to switching to Verizon and the coverage and quality of the network over at Big V is much better than at the other one. Sure, it would be great if you called customer service and they knew you by name and made you feel like you were talking to a family member, but that just isn't reality. The bottom line for me is ........how does my phone work on their network! Price certainly influences all of us to some degree, but I would rather pay a little more for something that "works" than to pay less for something that is spotty some of the time.

So, having said all of that, I am going to wait for the TB to arrive and for Verizon to announce the Launch date (for the very first time) and then I'm going to go buy one.

I respect your view...I think it is the far end of the continuum of the debate (the other is Verizon is the devil and they are doing it on pupose and it is Apple's fault, etc). I don't need them to know my my name when I call, but if I am not valued as a customer there is thing called the fee market economy, you know, competetion, it is why people are flocking to Android phones in the fist place. Verizon is not saying anything because it is more profitable for them not to say anything, but they could easily find a balance for their customers by letting them know what to expect (even it is not the whole story). IF they do not know.....well that is even more of a concern to me!

 

[NikoB]

I think a lot of the people posting on here are very young, at least they sound very young and young people tend to be self centered by nature and its very easy for them to think the small exodus from Verizon to other carriers because of this not phone not being released in their time frame would even be noticed by as company as big as Verizon. Trust me youngins' Verizon will not notice that you left. Just be patient. I'm on the side of there really not being a delay since there was never an official release date. Was it wrong to tease us with the commercial blitz then go silent..YES, but they are trying to figure out how to charge us more and once they do we'll get the phone. I love the Sense UI so I really want this phone for that reason. If the DInc had at least a 4" screen I would just get it but its to small for me.

 

[azdmelani]

Why don't we start saying the 24th my birthday after all and if it comes earlier than that we'd be so happy that it came so so early!

because it's coming out on MY BIRTHDAY (i.e. the 17th )

 

[leehblanc]

I think a lot of the people posting on here are very young, at least they sound very young and young people tend to be self centered by nature and its very easy for them to think the small exodus from Verizon to other carriers because of this not phone not being released in their time frame would even be noticed by as company as big as Verizon. Trust me youngins' Verizon will not notice that you left. Just be patient. I'm on the side of there really not being a delay since there was never an official release date. Was it wrong to tease us with the commercial blitz then go silent..YES, but they are trying to figure out how to charge us more and once they do we'll get the phone. I love the Sense UI so I really want this phone for that reason. If the DInc had at least a 4" screen I would just get it but its to small for me.

Verizon may not notice the few users that leave over this phone, but what about the next phone, and the one after that? Circuit City had millions of customers. They didn't care about he individuals. You could literally stand in front of a product with a wad of cash in your hand and they would ignore you. Happened to me more than once. How did that work out for them. Keep in mind that it counts double. For every customer that leaves Verizon because of the way they've handled the launch, Another customer joins ATT or Sprint for the Inspire or EVO. So not only does VZW lose one, but the competition gains one. In addition, it's our money. We can choose how to spend it. I'm really just playing Devil's advocate here, as I'm not planning on leaving unless the phone misses "Q1".

As far as there being no delay because there is no release date... this phone is NOT coming out on Verizon, because there is no release date.

 

[gnewvel]

For every customer that leaves Verizon because of the way they've handled the launch, Another customer joins ATT or Sprint for the Inspire or EVO. So not only does VZW lose one, but the competition gains one.

That would be assuming that ATT or Sprint never lose any customers to Verizon...not sure what the ebb and flow is of customers changing carries, but I'm guessing its less that what we on the forum think it actually is...My 74 and 77 year old parents are with Verizon, something tells me that there will be ONLY one way for them to switch carriers.

 

[NikoB]

But you assume the general public even knows about this phone. Only tech enthusiats are familiar with this phone. I think that's evident in how many people bought the iPhone when it came to Verizon...really..the iPhone. But Apple has marketed that phone so well that people don't realize that Verizon offers much better phones from last that are better than the iPhone. I just think it's a bit naive to think the few people that leave Verizon over the TB is even going to be noticed.

 

[prakash99]

This is why Verizon does not care if a handful of customers jump ship. And besides they have ppl coming to them from other carriers too - those who are not satisfied with their network's cell coverage.

J.D. Power says Verizon tops in call quality

 

[FrankXS]

Verizon may not notice the few users that leave over this phone, but what about the next phone, and the one after that?

Depending on how long you've been with VZW, you may not know that Verizon has always been noted for its lack of bleeding edge technology phones. VZW has always been one of the last to get cool phones. No news here. They always concentrate on selling the network, not phones. Always.

This ThunderBolt release is no exception. It's the old "love 'em or leave 'em" decision. I've been with VZW since they became VZW. For the network.

-Frank

 

[thedeceiver]

This is why Verizon does not care if a handful of customers jump ship. And besides they have ppl coming to them from other carriers too - those who are not satisfied with their network's cell coverage.

J.D. Power says Verizon tops in call quality

This delay does impact VZW business. They're losing customers (the handfull) on these forums who are tired of waiting. But think of it in these terms, when a brand new customer walks into a Best Buy to buy a new phone, they're either looking for an iPhone or the best phone that they can get for what they can afford.

What differentiates one phone from another? Lots of things but a big thing is going to be the "new" 4G networks that AT&T, T Mobile, Spring, and Verizon are carrying.

Now, you can walk into that Best Buy and see a 4G phone from EVERY SINGLE major carrier EXCEPT Verizon. If you don't think that Verizon is losing out on potential business because of this, you're right. Also, the customer's ignorance of Tbolts impending release because they're going to head over to AT&T, or Sprint, or TMobile and get one of those awesome new 4G Smart Phones that will beat their existing Verizon phone to a pulp.

This isn't going to put Verizon out of business, but these delays are hurting it's bottom line. Their 4G LTE network had better be bad ass -- because if it's just on par with it's competitors, VZW is a day late, and a dollar short.

 

[mannw1977]

It's coming people chillout. I got my $ down , so i just need a call from BB.When it comes everyone will jump for jay to drop this post and to get the TB. You started this Phil N.!

 

[prakash99]

You started this Phil N.!

LOL!! Phil gets the blame?

 

[bunique4life05]

- because if it's just on par with it's competitors, VZW is a day late, and a dollar short.

Unfortunately I would like add the face tier data plans' coming soon. This will not help Verizon at all as well as cost of the phone. Verizon has these best mobile networks but in a down economy people look else where for sake of a buck.

 

[prakash99]

Unfortunately like add will be also going to tier data plan. This will not help Verizon at all as well as cost of the phone. Verizon has these best mobile networks but in a down economy people look else where for sake of a buck.

People really looking for cheap phones and cheap plans do not go to the Big Four. They go to regional carriers like MetroPCS.

 

[bunique4life05]

People really looking for cheap phones and cheap plans do not go to the Big Four. They go to regional carriers like MetroPCS.

I disagree if they are looking for a 4G phone then they also look down on regional carriers like most do.

 

[ggpike]

This isn't going to put Verizon out of business, but these delays are hurting it's bottom line. Their 4G LTE network had better be bad ass -- because if it's just on par with it's competitors, VZW is a day late, and a dollar short.

The effect on their bottom line is minimal right now. 4G / LTE is just now getting started in the smartphone arena, so as long as VZW comes out with phones supporting LTE in the next couple of months, they'll be fine and any negative migration will be minimal. I think the issue that they're more concerned with, and rightfully so, is their network. Which do you think would be worse; being a month or so late to the 4G/LTE game and having an excellent LTE phone and network that surpasses the other networks out there at the moment, or going ahead and releasing a not so ready phone into the public spotlight that gives the new LTE network a bad reputation and actually impacts their bottom line?

The phone had an internal launch date that has been pushed back a few times for various reasons. Internal dates were never meant to be seen by the public eye, so therefore VZW never had an official release date for the phone. The only inklings the general public has about any kind of delay is the no show of the phone after being advertised by Best buy and commercials on TV. However, many products are announced and advertised in advance of their release, and this is no different. The only difference is that those in the tech community that have been eagerly awaiting the phone have been privy to internal information and goings on (however cryptic or general the info for job security purposes).

As far as the jumping on people who have passed on said information as making up dates or pretending to work for VZW just because something they said doesn't come to pass is kind of ridiculous. I worked for Rubbermaid about 3 years ago in marketing as a packaging designer. There were 9 designers total (we covered packaging design for retail and commercial products, ads, collateral, trade show material, etc) and about 8 other people in the marketing department (to give an idea just how small of a community a multinational corporation can be, if you've never worked in one). We had to know release dates for products (obviously) and worked closely with all of the product managers in the various channels. There were many times when art was due on a specific date, only to be pushed back another week or another month because the product had to be reworked because the buyer wanted changes to be made or there was a design aspect that needed to be tweaked (and yes, retailers were advertising said products and eventually had to pull the ads). Sometimes the product would be pushed back indefinitely only to never be released. . . Point being, even though release dates are known, things like this get pushed back all the time for updates and changes in the product, pricing, shipping, etc. Just because a date changes, doesn't mean these people are making the dates up. It's good for a healthy bit of skepticism, but sometimes there isn't a conspiracy and things happen for all kinds of reasons.

Just thought I'd throw in my experience to try and shed some light on the flip side. Until I was on the corporate side of things, I had no idea how things worked and would jump to all kinds of conclusions.

 

[Raptor007]

Ok, I'll bite. There is no delay, because they haven't announced a release date. The phone DOES exist, but it is not coming out on Verizon... wait for it... because they haven't announced a release date. Until they do, the phone is OFFICIALLY unofficial.

I'm not trying to be belligerent or pick a fight, but it get's old hearing that there has been no delay. Verizon corporate store employees told me the 24th in person. They were confident of that. I am not of the opinion that I should have to ask them for a copy of the press release, or a notarized affidavit. Nor do I carry a [insert religious tome of choice here] for them to swear upon. A verizon employee's word as a representative of the company should be good enough. To summarize: my perception, based upon my personal experience and the information I was given, is that this phone has been delayed.

If we can't agree on that, can we at least agree that the matter of whether or not the phone has been delayed is a matter of semantics? (Some antics?)LOL

While some agree and some disagree I am sure CEO Peter Chou of HTC is one to disagree. The phone is real, it shipped from HTC and just because Verizon is sitting on this phone doesn't mean HTC is sitting back. Since this phone is quickly turning into a launch failure (if it hasn't been already) I do see HTC focusing on other carriers especially AT&T since they want MORE android phones. If Verizon fails HTC, they will gladly move on.

Don't forget, churn is churn in the wireless industry and the battle for #1 is constantly churning. Other carriers can and will gain at Verizon's failures.

 

[Raptor007]

Sorry to say, but you are not 100% on the mark. Verizon has costs associated with their 4G rollout and they need to start to capitalize on it. Right now USB modems are likely not doing it. 4G phones will push that demand faster.

As for the public "wasn't supposed to see the internal date" well guess what we did and Verizon cannot hide from that fact. Verizon has FAILED to block one of their national authorized resellers from promoting a phone for over a month now that is not available. The ads keep coming from BB and I can tell you people are in fact asking for the phone and are being told all sorts of BS answers.

It is only rumor now that the alleged 3G to 4G handoff is still an issue, frankly I don't see that as fact any longer. Loaner phones have gone out to users in 3G and 4G markets and these phones are in fact with Verizon corporate accounts not Verizon testers.

So the only fact that remains is pricing on the data plan, Verizon can announce the phone and still screw around with the data plan right up to launch.

Its no longer about the network, its about how much to gouge for access to it.

 

[leehblanc]

I know... I was making a point tp those that say there has been no delay because there is no release date. I counter with the phone isn't coming out because there is no release date. If we're going to get Hung up on technicalities and semantics, let's go all the way

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[bunique4life05]

The effect on their bottom line is minimal right now. 4G / LTE is just now getting started in the smartphone arena, so as long as VZW comes out with phones supporting LTE in the next couple of months, they'll be fine and any negative migration will be minimal. I think the issue that they're more concerned with, and rightfully so, is their network. Which do you think would be worse; being a month or so late to the 4G/LTE game and having an excellent LTE phone and network that surpasses the other networks out there at the moment, or going ahead and releasing a not so ready phone into the public spotlight that gives the new LTE network a bad reputation and actually impacts their bottom line?

Valid points but the word 4G is been around for almost a year. Yes the technology is new and just started. Unless you are techie you pretty much unaware of that fact just see that this carrier has X amount of 4G devices. Furthermore they don't see the wimax, hspa+ or LTE so that does not deter them from waiting for any particular device on that bases. Early stated the mass just see 4G that's it. So Verizon being one of the last to release a 4G device I believe will have more than minimal effect on Verizon. What's worse the mass don't know anything about the delay's they just see a cool commercial from Verizon saying coming soon. Once buzz of commercial where off because of lack of release date hurts the launch.

If Verizon fails HTC, they will gladly move on.
Other carriers can and will gain at Verizon's failures.

I don't believe HTC will move on from Verizon but it will defiantly hurt their partnership. Verizon also seems to favor and glorify Motorola over HTC devices this may take toll on HTC partnership as well.

The TBOLT in the long run does not hurt Verizon but just in the sells of the device is questionable in the short term. Don't forget CTIA is just around corner that will reveal whole bunch of new devices. That will impact the TBOLT even more. The fate TBOLT relies on the masses not the small majority enthusiasts like us.

 

[tekhna]

I don't know if you guys saw, but the Tbolt is in Lady Gaga's new music video, embedded marketing attempt by Verizon/HTC. Took me a while to see though.