NEW: When Will the ThunderBolt be Available for Purchase?

[sexypikachu315]

Posted by that Bennn guy on android central who claims that he is Financial Analyst for Corp. Verizon:

Sorry guys, no updates today unless you're interested in the Blackberry Storm 3... which doesn't even compare to the Thunderbolt.

The 10th is on schedule as far as I have been told. No clue as to what is happening with this announcement, but I expect it any day now since everything is ready for launch and was planned for two days ago. I'll try to dig up some info over the weekend regarding the announcement and why they are holding off again.

EDIT: This device WILL be getting HTCsense.com shortly after launch. It is coming. No Thunderbolts have shipped yet.

This was posted at 8:18 PM Eastern Time

In contrast, Sentrix posted at 8:10 PM Eastern time that the Thunderbolts have shipped to stores already.......:icon_eek:

 

[StinkyPete]

... VZW is THEIR customer- NOT the other way around. Jeesh.

I think you have these mixed up.

Partner: Individual who joins with other individuals (partners) in an arrangement (partnership) where gains and losses, risks and rewards, are shared among the partners.

Customer: A party that receives or consumes products (goods or services) and has the ability to choose between different products and suppliers. See also buyer.

I deal with those relationships all the time and there is still a customer structure (one has leverage). The premise of the article implies the device is fine and no problems, except for VZW. If 4G is the issue, forcing a device out when not ready (if that is the issue) is counterproductive and makes little sense.

Seems more a joint scew-up and if their is any tension, it is the CFOs of both companies sending their finance directors out and showing operations, sales and R&D the downward trending curve of sales assumptions for the TB- as each week passes.

Don't think we will EVER know the real reason.

I know "in theory" it doesn't have to be released until after 3/31 for it to be late, but VZW has strongly indicated (CFO, tweets, etc.) that it would be out before then.

My latest guess is - 4G rate structure. In an hour I may have another guess.

 

[StevieJ]

I feel you. in fact i just called verizon earlier and ordered a 32GB iphone. im done with this phone. cant wait till gingerbread comes out and the EVO already has its update pushed but VZW "delays" the update so they can work out "the bugs"

lol. im done.

I'm considering the same move. I already use Macs exclusively at home so the switch wouldn't be painful. I also know that if I were inclined to sell it this summer I would still be able to get a good chunk of money out of it.

 

[georgek]

They're probably going to announce it on the 11th for the 10th. :rofl3:

 

[rushmore]

I think you have these mixed up.

Partner: Individual who joins with other individuals (partners) in an arrangement (partnership) where gains and losses, risks and rewards, are shared among the partners.

Customer: A party that receives or consumes products (goods or services) and has the ability to choose between different products and suppliers. See also buyer.

I deal with those relationships all the time and there is still a customer structure (one has leverage). The premise of the article implies the device is fine and no problems, except for VZW. If 4G is the issue, forcing a device out when not ready (if that is the issue) is counterproductive and makes little sense.

Seems more a joint scew-up and if their is any tension, it is the CFOs of both companies sending their finance directors out and showing operations, sales and R&D the downward trending curve of sales assumptions for the TB- as each week passes.

Don't think we will EVER know the real reason.

I know "in theory" it doesn't have to be released until after 3/31 for it to be late, but VZW has strongly indicated (CFO, tweets, etc.) that it would be out before then.

My latest guess is - 4G rate structure. In an hour I may have another guess.

I was thinking it is more political now too, in that politics is how to market the 4G cost to customers (battle perhaps at VZW).

Seems all have some level of potential truth:

1. Battery issues due to 4G attenuation problems
2. Skype
3. Bugs still cleaning out
4. 4G network still not ready beyond a few test metro areas

The net result seems a dual doo-doo on behalf of HTC and VZW.

Seems pre-orders next week and real devices shortly after fits. Unless they go whole hawg' the next week. Sales projections will take a hit each week, so time truly is money for both companies- mainly VZW.


added:

BTW, HTC has a killer dual core chipset releasing late summer...

 

[Shiven416]

The Atrix is a buggy, Motoblur-tainted POS. Don't get it.

Thunderbolt update:

There's a possibility Best Buy will start selling it exclusively on March 8th, beginning with those who pre-ordered. Rumors have been circulating just today that some of the more knowledgeable Best Buy staff have been throwing around that March 8 date when asked about the TB. Others say the 10th. Most don't know.

What we know right now is that an announcement is imminent and will come by Monday at the latest. I'm pretty confident the release date isn't going to be later than the 10th, even despite the announcement delays.

Thunderbolt devices began shipping to stores today. I think store employees are going to be notified of this sometime tomorrow, at which point maybe then we'll HAVE to have an announcement, by default, simply because everyone will know.

Has Verizon ever announced a smartphone over the weekend?

 

[sidsixseven]

I feel you. in fact i just called verizon earlier and ordered a 32GB iphone. im done with this phone. cant wait till gingerbread comes out and the EVO already has its update pushed but VZW "delays" the update so they can work out "the bugs"

lol. im done.

I'm considering the same move. I already use Macs exclusively at home so the switch wouldn't be painful. I also know that if I were inclined to sell it this summer I would still be able to get a good chunk of money out of it.

Three reasons I don't want the iPhone (and only three).
1) Widgets -- the iPhone doesn't have them. Even Win 6.1 phones have Widgets.

2) Integrated Speech-To-Text. I love this feature. All phones stink for my big meaty claws.

3) Flash

I keep going over it and over it but I've decided those three things are the things I can't live without. But that doesn't mean I need to stick with Verizon to get those things...

 

[Its TwiX]

BTW, HTC has a killer dual core chipset releasing late summer...

Phones will always get upgraded hardware. By the beginning of next year they'll be shipping with quad cores (according to NVIDEA's roadmap). It's just how long you are able to wait. I, for one, can't wait. I have a touch screen that I have to push harder than the click on my laptop to do anything and am sick and tired of it.

 

[grgguy]

I too have had it with my D1,It bores me now it can barley run gingerbread and the screen is to small . Verizon has about 2 weeks before I jump ship and head over to ATT for an Attrix

 

[sidsixseven]

Source: HTC THUNDERBOLT ALREADY IN STORES, JUST NOT FOR SALE YET [INSIDE SOURCE]
SentNation have had a conversation with their Verizon Wireless contact who has not only all but guaranteed a March 10th release date for the HTC ThunderBolt, they’ve noted threats from HTC deciding the fate of advertisements for the phone and possible consequences for Verizon if they did not release the phone soon!

More unconfirmed rumor, but according to this "insider" the phones have shipped and we should have a release date soon.

 

[rushmore]

BTW, HTC has a killer dual core chipset releasing late summer...

Phones will always get upgraded hardware. By the beginning of next year they'll be shipping with quad cores (according to NVIDEA's roadmap). It's just how long you are able to wait. I, for one, can't wait. I have a touch screen that I have to push harder than the click on my laptop to do anything and am sick and tired of it.

Kind of my point- long wait in electronics world. As mentioned, seems Tmo could be the first to get it (I meant Qualcomm, of course for chipset)

 

[lewblue83]

Three reasons I don't want the iPhone (and only three).
1) Widgets -- the iPhone doesn't have them. Even Win 6.1 phones have Widgets.

2) Integrated Speech-To-Text. I love this feature. All phones stink for my big meaty claws.

3) Flash

I keep going over it and over it but I've decided those three things are the things I can't live without. But that doesn't mean I need to stick with Verizon to get those things...

The widgets is a great reason.

I myself never use speech to text, computers dont like my boston accent. lmao.

and i dont really see myself NEEDING flash, yea its nice, but not required.

Ive had the droid 1, Dinc, DX so im no apple fanboy. but im frustrated with this launch.
im going with the iphone because its a solid performer, the build quality kicks butt, and there are literally COUNTLESS accessories for it. and a high resale value on the phone itself.

 

[rushmore]

The Atrix is a buggy, Motoblur-tainted POS. Don't get it.

Thunderbolt update:

There's a possibility Best Buy will start selling it exclusively on March 8th, beginning with those who pre-ordered. Rumors have been circulating just today that some of the more knowledgeable Best Buy staff have been throwing around that March 8 date when asked about the TB. Others say the 10th. Most don't know.

What we know right now is that an announcement is imminent and will come by Monday at the latest. I'm pretty confident the release date isn't going to be later than the 10th, even despite the announcement delays.

Thunderbolt devices began shipping to stores today. I think store employees are going to be notified of this sometime tomorrow, at which point maybe then we'll HAVE to have an announcement, by default, simply because everyone will know.

Has Verizon ever announced a smartphone over the weekend?

Friday and weekends are known as news-dump zone, since least chance of getting high coverage. Not a good time for a big product announcement.

 

[Arachnidus]

Posted by that Bennn guy on android central who claims that he is Financial Analyst for Corp. Verizon:

Sorry guys, no updates today unless you're interested in the Blackberry Storm 3... which doesn't even compare to the Thunderbolt.

The 10th is on schedule as far as I have been told. No clue as to what is happening with this announcement, but I expect it any day now since everything is ready for launch and was planned for two days ago. I'll try to dig up some info over the weekend regarding the announcement and why they are holding off again.

EDIT: This device WILL be getting HTCsense.com shortly after launch. It is coming. No Thunderbolts have shipped yet.

This was posted at 8:18 PM Eastern Time

In contrast, Sentrix posted at 8:10 PM Eastern time that the Thunderbolts have shipped to stores already.......:icon_eek:

I don't know what this post makes me feel; sad about the whole TB situation or utterly surprised that RIM can't understand the definition of "failure".

 

[wvdroidman]

just release a 3g phone since 4g is limited to 22 markets or whatever.