HTC Thunderbolt Release Date

[shaddix]

Is it more expensive to build a 4g tower than a 3g tower?

 

[Blackcharger06]

hmm

Is it more expensive to build a 4g tower than a 3g tower?

The towers are the same, it's the equipment on the towers. A good way to get a jump on when your area will be 4g if it isn't yet is, to watch the selectmen/councilmen meetings on your cable access channel. I was watching one day and saw verzion talking with our mayor about putting up 4g towers. This was awhile ago as we've had 4g for awhile living here in waltham ma right next to the LTe inovation center...

 

[UNC]

I think that the price will almost certainly go up to make the jump from 3G to 4G. How do you think they will pay for all of those LTE towers they have been and will be building? Why would they give LTE away essentially for free (ie. if you only paid your same $30/month fee and got the benefit of LTE and 3G)? Simple, they won't. I think an extra $10 per month for an LTE sim card is a best-case scenario, not the worst case like you said.

I'm not saying they will not charge more in some way, but I think the numbers people are throwing around are way off the mark. You mentioned they would need to charge more for LTE to pay for all the towers, but why are they not charging more for 4G mobile broadband? It absolutely does not make sense that they would not charge more for mobile broadband (which has never been cheaper than smartphone data on VZW), but jump the price on phone data plans up.

Let me re-state, I'm not saying there absolutely won't be a premium, I'm just no buying the $50 a month number people are throwing around. Verizon is not that stupid, the vast majority of their customers would not pay that and would buy 3G plans/phones, leaving LTE to fall on it's face. VZW doesn't want to keep putting money into their 3G network to prop it up, it's just bad business to price 4G high enough to push people back to 3G or other carriers.

Verizon has already stated that it's cheaper for them to have people on 4G than 3G, it's in their best interest to push people to 4G.

Its 30 a month for 3g.... so 50 a month for 4g and "unlimited" 3g seems pretty decent to me.

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[kparks]

I think that the price will almost certainly go up to make the jump from 3G to 4G. How do you think they will pay for all of those LTE towers they have been and will be building? Why would they give LTE away essentially for free (ie. if you only paid your same $30/month fee and got the benefit of LTE and 3G)? Simple, they won't. I think an extra $10 per month for an LTE sim card is a best-case scenario, not the worst case like you said.

I'm not saying they will not charge more in some way, but I think the numbers people are throwing around are way off the mark. You mentioned they would need to charge more for LTE to pay for all the towers, but why are they not charging more for 4G mobile broadband? It absolutely does not make sense that they would not charge more for mobile broadband (which has never been cheaper than smartphone data on VZW), but jump the price on phone data plans up.

Let me re-state, I'm not saying there absolutely won't be a premium, I'm just no buying the $50 a month number people are throwing around. Verizon is not that stupid, the vast majority of their customers would not pay that and would buy 3G plans/phones, leaving LTE to fall on it's face. VZW doesn't want to keep putting money into their 3G network to prop it up, it's just bad business to price 4G high enough to push people back to 3G or other carriers.

Verizon has already stated that it's cheaper for them to have people on 4G than 3G, it's in their best interest to push people to 4G.

Its 30 a month for 3g.... so 50 a month for 4g and "unlimited" 3g seems pretty decent to me.

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seems high to me im getting 450min unlimited text mail web and so on with sprint for 62 bucks a month lol and u say 50 for data is fine???

 

[kparks]

I did say that the word is that the $50/month 4g with 5gb also comes with "unlimited" 3g right? That makes 4g only a $20 premium. That isn't bad at all.

$20 more per month is too steep for LTE (that's an extra $240 per year over unlimited 3G pricing). Sprint only charges a $10 premium ($120 less than it would be on Verizon). Verizon should not force 4G pricing on people just to have an LTE-capable phone, especially since most cities do not have LTE yet, and will not be covered for at least 6 months, or even 1-2 years.

For a 2 year contract:
Sprint EVO = $200 for the phone + $40/month for 4G data = $1160
Verizon TB = $250 for the phone + $50/month for 4G data = $1450

Almost a $300 difference over the course of 24 months. The $50 extra for the phone is fine (upgraded specs, 32GB microSD included), but the extra $10/month more than Sprint for LTE is where they will get you.

Forced pricing would suck. I'd have to wait another month for the HTC Incredible 2 to come out because I simply will not pay more for something I cannot use yet. Let's hope they give us the option so I can still get the TB!

I feel that if they force people to pay that extra for 4G when its not around the TB will flop in sales.

everyone will have to pay for 4g if u get 4g or not thats what my guy is telling me and again it will be 10 or 15 $ more a month.. look at how many ppl have the evo and dont get 4g and also look at how many ppl dont even know what it is... they see all these commercials many people just figure they are covered and wont even know the dif then u got the ppl u just want the newest thing out THIS PHONE WILL SELL!!! its all business!

 

[EgooEspada]

I think that the price will almost certainly go up to make the jump from 3G to 4G. How do you think they will pay for all of those LTE towers they have been and will be building? Why would they give LTE away essentially for free (ie. if you only paid your same $30/month fee and got the benefit of LTE and 3G)? Simple, they won't. I think an extra $10 per month for an LTE sim card is a best-case scenario, not the worst case like you said.

I'm not saying they will not charge more in some way, but I think the numbers people are throwing around are way off the mark. You mentioned they would need to charge more for LTE to pay for all the towers, but why are they not charging more for 4G mobile broadband? It absolutely does not make sense that they would not charge more for mobile broadband (which has never been cheaper than smartphone data on VZW), but jump the price on phone data plans up.

Let me re-state, I'm not saying there absolutely won't be a premium, I'm just no buying the $50 a month number people are throwing around. Verizon is not that stupid, the vast majority of their customers would not pay that and would buy 3G plans/phones, leaving LTE to fall on it's face. VZW doesn't want to keep putting money into their 3G network to prop it up, it's just bad business to price 4G high enough to push people back to 3G or other carriers.

Verizon has already stated that it's cheaper for them to have people on 4G than 3G, it's in their best interest to push people to 4G.

Its 30 a month for 3g.... so 50 a month for 4g and "unlimited" 3g seems pretty decent to me.

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Seems like Verizon has the ability to make 4G use optional if 3G and 4G have different limits - they just won't though.

Sent from my Droid

 

[Raptor007]

At least verizon will have their customers fully covered by 4G within the next two years, when will Sprint be done, oh likely 10 years to never.

I have also read that the 4G equipment costs less to deploy and maintain especially given the distance you can achieve per tower is far greater. that makes the footprint larger and cost over all lower. So Verizon really has not excuse on cost as an excuse.

 

[ythot26]

guys take this how you will, I'll personally believe it when I see it but:

a couple days ago someone posted on here how there is a facebook page for the TB, and we all commented on how unofficial it looks, blah blah blah. well I went back on there today and according to that page, it will come out late feb/early march
this is what was posted:

"The HTC Thunderbolt 4G is also 3G compatible, and $250 is the upgrade price. The one year price hasn't been negotiated yet, but it will be at some point. We will be offering early-upgrade promotions for this phone though. You will not be charged for LTE services unless there is 4G service in your area."

I bolded that last part because, well, if true, that's amazing.
That site still looks very sketchy to me, so you don't have to believe any of this (I don't... yet)
just putting this out there!

 

[peterjariel]

So I heard a while back that the TB was gonna have face recognition, Is this confirmed? that would be awsome. Im guessing all they would have to do is make an app. idk.

 

[Blackcharger06]

Thunderbolt release date..

Employee's in the Boston area have had training on the phone this week, with a projected release date of @feb 14th. The word is verizon has spent a ton of money on 4g and wants a return on their investment. With increased staff due to the iphone lanuch it's going to be a busy time at verizon...

 

[buckeye044]

Is the topic of this thread the release date or the cost of services?

 

[avoltech]

Wonder if the TB will have wi-fi?

 

[motty69]

Is the topic of this thread the release date or the cost of services?

As threads grow topics change, re-change and change again. Just the nature of the internet.

Unless of course you're the topic police! :icon_eek:

 

[motty69]

Wonder if the TB will have wi-fi?

I believe it supports B,G & N;

HTC ThunderBolt? at Verizon

 

[Serbeus]

After following this thread from the beginning and see all the speculation I'm convinced it will be 24th of February. This is purely my educated guess, nothing more.