And some more Thunderbolt news: HTC mad at Verizon?

[Bateluer]

http://www.droid-life.com/2011/03/0...s-htc-thunderbolt-still-rockin-299-price-tag/

The latest gossip on Verizon’s first 4G LTE phone suggests that HTC is becoming a little irritated with Big Red over all of these apparent delays and has even threatened to pull all of their ads if the phone isn’t announced today! Oh no! We still have no idea what the real cause for them to keep missing rumored dates is, but it doesn’t even matter at this point.

I can't hit that Latest Gossip link from work, so could someone past the text of it into the thread?

Also, 299 and 249 pricing showing up. Flustercluck.

 

[Firetower]

http://www.droid-life.com/2011/03/0...s-htc-thunderbolt-still-rockin-299-price-tag/



I can't hit that Latest Gossip link from work, so could someone past the text of it into the thread?

Also, 299 and 249 pricing showing up. Flustercluck.

Gossip Link............

While we all wait the release of the HTC Thunderbolt – Verizon’s first 4G LTE compatible smartphone which has been delayed many, many times. We’ve come up with the tentative date of March 10th. To my knowledge, it was scheduled for the 10th a week ago.

There were then announcements that were slated to occur on both March 1 and March 3 (both would announce the phone for release on the 10th) and neither happened. My source was initially unsure and then said things are simply being “finalized.”

The HTC Thunderbolt should still be released on March 10 when it’s all said and done.

Here are my text logs with a Verizon Wireless insider:

Me (11:41 AM): What’s up with the TB? No announcement.

Source (12:31 PM): No idea

Me (12:40 PM): Asked around?

Source (12:49 PM): Yep. No dice. No one knows

Me (12:51 PM): Damn. Will it be announced later?

Me (1:50 PM): Will it be announced later?

Source (2:12 PM): It’s happening today

Me (2:16 PM): Ok

Me (7:04 PM): What’s up? Not happening today?

Source (9:51 PM): Things are being finalized. We’re shipping to stores tomorrow which is ahead of schedule. [HTC] wanted it announced days ago. I think either tomorrow or Monday/tues we’ll go public with the news. Phone’s been ready forever

Me (10:00 PM): Sounds like hell. March 10 still?

Source (10:10 PM): 10th is right. Just got off a conference call with [Some partner] things are getting chippy around here. Someone’s more impatient than you — We heard HTC threatened to pull all its ads if we don’t announce a date before Saturday

Me (10:14 PM): Holy ****. Think it’ll be announced soon then?

Source (10:27 PM): I hope so I don’t need that ****

Me (10:29 PM): I just want a smartphone.

Source (10:37 PM): Going on another conf, brb

Me (10:40 PM): Tell me what they say

 

[Bman123]

Too much drama for this phone

 

[Bateluer]

Makes me wonder if there really was anything to the battery life rumors? I doubt HTC would be pressuring Verizon to release it if it was getting 2 hour battery life.

I'm thinking Verizon was simply dragging its feet in the hopes of selling more iPhone 4s. More profit, less stress on their LTE network in the short term.

 

[Pliablemoose]

HTC is likely touting the success of the EVO despite it's miserable 4G battery life, telling Verizon it'll sell.

Verizon is likely concerned that they'll get a ton of returns if they release a phone with a 2-3 hour battery life.

The EVO's battery life sucks balls, on 4G, it's nearly non existent. It the TB is anything like that, Verizon will scrap it.

BTW, I won't let go of my EVO without a fight, I have my giant battery and unlimited 4G tethering, I've kept it activated longer than any single phone since my gen 1 iPhone on TMobile...

 

[Bateluer]

HTC is likely touting the success of the EVO despite it's miserable 4G battery life, telling Verizon it'll sell.

Verizon is likely concerned that they'll get a ton of returns if they release a phone with a 2-3 hour battery life.

The EVO's battery life sucks balls, on 4G, it's nearly non existent. It the TB is anything like that, Verizon will scrap it.

BTW, I won't let go of my EVO without a fight, I have my giant battery and unlimited 4G tethering, I've kept it activated longer than any single phone since my gen 1 iPhone on TMobile...

Keep in mind, the TB also has a more power efficient CPU and GPU, plus a more efficient SLCD(?) screen. But, I'm thinking any phone released on a more 4G network, Sprint's WiMAX or Verizon's LTE, is going to be pretty hard on the battery life. I don't count T-Mobile and AT&T's HSPA as '4G'.

 

[Patranus]

LOL, so who is HTC going to sell this LTE phone to, T-Mobile? LOL.

Thats a good laugh.

 

[BigDaddyD]

For a while I was beginning to question whether Apple was pressuring Verizon not to release the TB for a bit. I mean, I am sure that had some people that were waiting on it switch to the Iphone. I know I have been thinking about it. At this point I am all about done with the TB, which is what I was planing on buying. I will either get an older phone like a Droid X, just wait for the new Iphone or the next batch of phones. I would be pissed too if I was HTC. That is assuming that there was nothing wrong with the phone.

 

[Bateluer]

For a while I was beginning to question whether Apple was pressuring Verizon not to release the TB for a bit. I mean, I am sure that had some people that were waiting on it switch to the Iphone. I know I have been thinking about it. At this point I am all about done with the TB, which is what I was planing on buying. I will either get an older phone like a Droid X, just wait for the new Iphone or the next batch of phones. I would be pissed too if I was HTC. That is assuming that there was nothing wrong with the phone.

Would be even more foolish to get the iPhone 4 right now. Its old and CDMA based. By the time the Thunderbolt arrives, the Bionic will be pretty close to launch. Far better phone, even with Moto Blur. I'm just hoping it doesn't have an encrypted bootloader. The Xoom is adequately open, I believe, and I want to see the Bionic follow suit.

 

[BigDaddyD]

Would be even more foolish to get the iPhone 4 right now. Its old and CDMA based. By the time the Thunderbolt arrives, the Bionic will be pretty close to launch. Far better phone, even with Moto Blur. I'm just hoping it doesn't have an encrypted bootloader. The Xoom is adequately open, I believe, and I want to see the Bionic follow suit.

All that maybe true, but the fact is that it really doesn't matter to a lot of people. As much as I would like the new tech myself, I needed a phone last month not 4 months from now. The only reason I didn't jump on the Iphone is because another Iphone is coming out and it requires a 2 yr commitment. Those 2 things kept me from it. I don't care too much about dual core or LTE or anything else for now, especially if I can get a 1 yr plan.

 

[Bateluer]

All that maybe true, but the fact is that it really doesn't matter to a lot of people. As much as I would like the new tech myself, I needed a phone last month not 4 months from now. The only reason I didn't jump on the Iphone is because another Iphone is coming out and it requires a 2 yr commitment. Those 2 things kept me from it. I don't care too much about dual core or LTE or anything else for now, especially if I can get a 1 yr plan.

I don't know, the benchmarks showing Tegra 2 devices getting 100% better/faster scores than competing single core devices might make it worth the wait.

 

[rcpratt]

Is this going to happen Thursday? I haven't seen anything, but haven't really been paying attention.

 

[rcpratt]

They're saying the 17th now. Congratulations, Verizon...I give up.

http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2011/03/08/htc-thunderbolt-even-more-release-date-confusion/

 

[Bateluer]

My wallet's been strained to the breaking point this month, so even if it came out in March, I wouldn't pick it up.

 

[Phokus]

I think i'd rather have the Bionic anyway, they need to release that earlier.

 

[foghorn67]

Engadget has a VZW press release saying LTE data will be ready by the end of the 2nd quarter for handsets.
Meaning, the Thunderbolt is ready. Data is not. My sources were correct.

 

[foghorn67]

Or....they want LTE handsets on the new tiered data plan. Not before.

 

[Bateluer]

Engadget has a VZW press release saying LTE data will be ready by the end of the 2nd quarter for handsets.
Meaning, the Thunderbolt is ready. Data is not. My sources were correct.

Whats the difference between LTE data for USB modems and LTE data for handsets?

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Whats the difference between LTE data for USB modems and LTE data for handsets?

Battery life and the hand offs between the different networks.

 

[foghorn67]

Battery life isn't that much of a factor. Lookup the Samsung Stealth to get a clue.
It's the hand offs.
Also. See VZW tier plans coming later this year. I suspect greed is the motivation.
When in doubt, always default to thinking carriers are evil. VZW would hate any LTE handsets to have unlimited data for 30 bucks. Even if its only for the first few months of adopters.

 

[BigDaddyD]

So assuming all of this is true, what does this mean? LTE is to blame? The TB is ready and fine, but verizon isn't releasing it because of LTE, which they were touting as the best thing since sliced bread. If lte won't be ready for months, what is the point of TB? HTC might as well sue Verizon for that failure since no one will buy it. At this point, I might as well consider non LTE phones until they can figure it out and get their shit together.

 

[jersiq]

Battery life isn't that much of a factor. Lookup the Samsung Stealth to get a clue.
It's the hand offs.
Also. See VZW tier plans coming later this year. I suspect greed is the motivation.
When in doubt, always default to thinking carriers are evil. VZW would hate any LTE handsets to have unlimited data for 30 bucks. Even if its only for the first few months of adopters.

Nor is handoffs the issue. If you think so then tell me why you think there is a difference in SIB8 messaging between a handset and an aircard?

 

[Anneka]

No surprise for me on this story. But HTC won't do nothing because let's be serious, Verizon is the top carrier in US

 

[foghorn67]

Nor is handoffs the issue. If you think so then tell me why you think there is a difference in SIB8 messaging between a handset and an aircard?

Oh there was.