HTC Thunderbolt Release Date

[Allen K]

I think VZW is doing this to discredit all the insiders

 

[metzor]

Alternatively, these VZW "insiders" are a lot lower on the food chain than people realize and what they are spreading are internal rumors, probably not any better or worse than the blogs with supposedly high-level sources.

This is why execs truly in the knows try to keep this info close to the vest. Probably what is happening is the guy testing in LA gives it the thumbs up, and so people start saying it's ready to launch, oblivious to the fact it will be held up because testers in NY and Boston are having issues (I'm just making that example up).

Yeah, I mean obviously someone with a reliable reputation was misinformed. But it just seemed like more than one reputable source were on the verge of guarantees for an announcement last week, and still nothing. But if there was any truth to it, and they really were that close to announcing a release and then pulled it, my confusion level will go to a new and unnecessary level.

 

[BigMace23]

Oh, come on ck, don't tease us! Is it pricing? How about a hint? At least that's good news that it isn't the network, but if you say its the phone itself I am disinclined to believe that. Johnboy said his demo is smooth and fast and gets decent battery life. Could it be last minute software stuff? Throw us a bone!

Johnboys info while good is incomplete. He needs to operate the handset over LTE before signing off on it.

I agree that a real-world LTE test must be conducted before final judgment. Ok, forgive me, but now I'm confused. You just said it wasn't the LTE network...am I missing something? Is the TB itself still having problems connecting to the network or switching back & forth between 3G/4G? I thought that issue was fixed already.

He's saying that when the TB gets on LTE, you can kiss your battery goodbye. Idk if its that bad, but its a small battery to begin with powering a 4.3 inch screen on an LTE network with only a single core processor to run everything. That means bad battery life, and truthfully it is really making me start to look at other phones coming out in the future. I guess we wont know for sure until they release it though!

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[shortsxit]

Alternatively, these VZW "insiders" are a lot lower on the food chain than people realize and what they are spreading are internal rumors, probably not any better or worse than the blogs with supposedly high-level sources.

This is why execs truly in the knows try to keep this info close to the vest. Probably what is happening is the guy testing in LA gives it the thumbs up, and so people start saying it's ready to launch, oblivious to the fact it will be held up because testers in NY and Boston are having issues (I'm just making that example up).

I'd agree, but then they say, "My source is way up the ladder. He's a VP and currently in a meeting with all the higher-ups and HTC."

This isn't a bash on them or anything, more of a WTF? How can every one of them be so reliable in the past, but every one of them be wrong about every factor in this phone's release? It just doesn't add up; and, I'm sure they're all just as frustrated as us.

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[hookbob]

I'm surprised how well this thread is. I've been on other sites and they have had 25 threads for each date.

Though I'm pretty sure the other sites I been on allow just about anything to be posted as long as you aren't spamming.

 

[kodiak799]

I'd agree, but then they say, "My source is way up the ladder. He's a VP and currently in a meeting with all the higher-ups and HTC."

Usually they aren't that specific, and not that journalists don't care about reliability of sources, but it's also in their interest to overstate the level/importance of that source, or at least give that impression.

If a truck driver tells you he just delivered a shipment of TBolts, 9 times out of 10 that means a release is imminent. But it's ultimately extrapolating from incomplete information. Same thing with the janitor or payroll clerk, they might see and hear things that are usually reliable but it's incomplete information and subject to change.

There's a reason these rumors are all panning out to be wrong, and that's probably because the sources aren't really that high up in the food chain. If VZW isn't going to say publicly what the issues are (cryptic at best), don't expect execs to risk their job leaking the real scoop. 99 times out of a 100 if someone truly "in the know" is "leaking" info it's planned, orchestrated and approved. Simply put, you probably wouldn't risk your $250k+ job over this so I don't know why we think the higher ups would.

 

[pc747]

I'd agree, but then they say, "My source is way up the ladder. He's a VP and currently in a meeting with all the higher-ups and HTC."

Usually they aren't that specific, and not that journalists don't care about reliability of sources, but it's also in their interest to overstate the level/importance of that source, or at least give that impression.

If a truck driver tells you he just delivered a shipment of TBolts, 9 times out of 10 that means a release is imminent. But it's ultimately extrapolating from incomplete information. Same thing with the janitor or payroll clerk, they might see and hear things that are usually reliable but it's incomplete information and subject to change.

There's a reason these rumors are all panning out to be wrong, and that's probably because the sources aren't really that high up in the food chain. If VZW isn't going to say publicly what the issues are (cryptic at best), don't expect execs to risk their job leaking the real scoop. 99 times out of a 100 if someone truly "in the know" is "leaking" info it's planned, orchestrated and approved. Simply put, you probably wouldn't risk your $250k+ job over this so I don't know why we think the higher ups would.

^this I think we have a few types of leaks. One allowed by executives to get a feeling of if the fanbase will purchase a product. One by people who work as a janitor and over heard part of it and is putting out partial information. And one put out by people who saw it written in a tweet or blog and want to sound intelligent because they were the first to post it on their blog. Leaks are that leaks and not official so you can not get upset if a leak did not pan out. Infact its sad that we the community is upset at vzw and htc for the leaks and not checking the people who posted the leaks. I am not saying flame or be rude to a person who put out a leak just take it with a grain of salt. If the leak pans out then good if not oh well life goes on.

 

[funkyb]

New here, about to get my first smartphone...apologies if this doesn't belong in this thread. First, I read this a little while back in an article on PCMag.com:

When the HTC Thunderbolt launches, "that will give you a flavor of what our tiered pricing structure will be," Shammo said.

Everywhere else I hear the tiered data will be introduced mid-summer 2011, which sounds likely to be after the "first half of 2011" TB release. The idea that tiered data plans may come with (or before) the TB is frustrating, and at least to me sounds like it is neither in VZW nor its customers best interest. This is how the possible situations look to me:

1. They announce tiered data is coming before TB, I hurry up and get a Droid X and spend another 2 years (at least) with VZW.
2. They announce tiered data is coming after TB, I wait for TB and spend another 2 years (at least) with VZW.
3. They don't announce anything, and TB comes before Tiered data - I risk picking a phone I don't want as much just to get my data package on contract, and get frustrated with VZW for not telling me to wait for TB.
4. They don't announce anything, and Tiered data comes before or with TB, I risk waiting to find that I'm not getting either, and leave VZW for Sprint.

To me it seems in VZW's best interst to be more open about the intention on tiered data with respect to TB's release...if not exact dates, fine, just really want to know what's coming first!

-B

 

[electric6]

lol its getting too quiet in here. This latest news looks to have turned a lot of us off from it altogether. This is a prime opportunity for a 'new source' to come forward and start spreading more rumors again. Oh and hook, why did yall decide to re-enable release date discussions? Not taking it for granted, just curious.

 

[metzor]

lol its getting too quiet in here. This latest news looks to have turned a lot of us off from it altogether. This is a prime opportunity for a 'new source' to come forward and start spreading more rumors again. Oh and hook, why did yall decide to re-enable release date discussions? Not taking it for granted, just curious.

Really? Nothing has dissuaded me from 3/17-3/24 being the most likely. But what difference does that make?

Probably people have just run out of speculation possibilities. Or at the very least, running low.

 

[electric6]

lets not forget the suppsed blunderbolt launch party next week on the 15th. If that is true, then there is no way it is not coming out by the 24th. And more likely the 17th, as stores would probably recieve their blunderbolt shipments the day before launch. Again, all speculation, but usually launch parties are right before device launches.

 

[pc747]

I have a tidbit of info. Good thing is I saw thunderbolt cases at best buy. Bad thing is its on clearance . Maybe they waiting for a new shipment of cases.

 

[georgek]

I have a tidbit of info. Good thing is I saw thunderbolt cases at best buy. Bad thing is its on clearance . Maybe they waiting for a new shipment of cases.

I saw cases at Best Buy around Valentines day. Don't know if they're still there though.

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[pc747]

Wow something must be up. Best buy has been up on a lot of tech and they don't jump the gun too often. They must have been given some info if the had cases out that early. They must feel like we do especially with a lot of customers calling in daily asking about a phone they reserved on superbowl Sunday.

 

[georgek]

They had 2 different cases and screen protectors.

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