HTC Thunderbolt Release Date

[Sara77]

I just asked if there was an activation fee and if I could do it on my own and they definitely said, 'no.' I did not even think about whether to ask if this was for new lines or existing lines.... I will call and ask tomorrow. I am already losing my $30 NE2 discount and if I had to pay a $35 activation fee then it is costing me $65 to go through best buy. Honestly, I just want the phone... I am so sick of waiting on dates and rumors... as we all are!

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[UNC]

24th.

iPhone has higher demand than anticapated.

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[Sara77]

I was told 'for sure' the 14th when I was at best buy and that they may even have them as early as the 10th. If you go to htc.com it has a best buy logo at the bottom... could it be that best buy will have exclusive rights to launching this phone as previously suggested?
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[jimmyco2008]

If you're saying the 24th because of Miami's post, then it's the 14th lol

 

[guitarchris123]

surprised there letting pre-orders out when they have not said anything about 4G pricing if it cost extra some ppl might be pretty pissed off... and if it was the same why not just come out at ces and say it thats a huge selling point... what are they DOING???

I'm hoping that they initially wanted to figure out a way to make more money off of LTE by charging extra, but have since decided that they can't charge extra for it quite yet because of such limited availability. I think they will try to get people on board with the same $30 unlimited for 3G/4G, use that as a marketing tactic to gain favor, then jack up rates several months down the road when more people get LTE in their area and those that already have it get dependent on the greater speeds.

As far as release date, I'm thinking 2/14 at Best Buy ("hard" release date, but subject to change for various reasons, including software readiness, supply, and iPhone?), then 2/24 at Verizon stores (to give iPhone a head start and be on the exchange window date). I know it would be weird to have separate dates, but maybe there is something to the Best Buy "exclusivity" rumors, especially since we've seen they are already getting accessories for the TB in stock, BB is not getting the vPhone, and not to mention all the other evidence we've seen for that date at BB. Same thing that I thought 2 weeks ago.

VZW isn't worried about people exchanging the iPhone for the TB on the 24th, first, because they make profit off the $35 restocking fee anyway then sell the same phone as new again, and second, people who really want the TB did not pre-order the iPhone, and won't buy it or anything else until the TB comes out, and those that did blindly and sheepishly pre-order the iPhone could care less about an Android phone that will blow it out of the water. Delay until 2/28 is doubtful as the other recent thread has stated. Sorry, but the source for that date has been unreliable for info on this phone so far since the beginning (ie. November 23rd debacle, 3G version, 1.2-1.5GHz, etc.). Plus, VZW would not be 2 weeks behind BB releasing the phone.

I know people think VZW is bending over backwards for Apple (which they probably are at least a little bit), but don't think they are abandoning Android, the platform that got them to the #1 spot in the mobile phone market. I sure hope the flood of new iPhone users doesn't screw up our wonderful network. Maybe LTE will help take some of the load off.

 

[Android1254]

surprised there letting pre-orders out when they have not said anything about 4G pricing if it cost extra some ppl might be pretty pissed off... and if it was the same why not just come out at ces and say it thats a huge selling point... what are they DOING???

I'm hoping that they initially wanted to figure out a way to make more money off of LTE by charging extra, but have since decided that they can't charge extra for it quite yet because of such limited availability. I think they will try to get people on board with the same $30 unlimited for 3G/4G, use that as a marketing tactic to gain favor, then jack up rates several months down the road when more people get LTE in their area and those that already have it get dependent on the greater speeds.

As far as release date, I'm thinking 2/14 at Best Buy ("hard" release date, but subject to change for various reasons, including software readiness, supply, and iPhone?), then 2/24 at Verizon stores (to give iPhone a head start and be on the exchange window date). I know it would be weird to have separate dates, but maybe there is something to the Best Buy "exclusivity" rumors, especially since we've seen they are already getting accessories for the TB in stock, BB is not getting the vPhone, and not to mention all the other evidence we've seen for that date at BB. Same thing that I thought 2 weeks ago.

VZW isn't worried about people exchanging the iPhone for the TB on the 24th, first, because they make profit off the $35 restocking fee anyway then sell the same phone as new again, and second, people who really want the TB did not pre-order the iPhone, and won't buy it or anything else until the TB comes out. Delay until 2/28 is doubtful as the other recent thread has stated. Sorry, but the source for that date has been unreliable for info on this phone so far since the beginning (ie. November 23rd debacle, 3G version, 1.2-1.5GHz, etc.). Plus, VZW would not be 2 weeks behind BB releasing the phone.

I know people think VZW is bending over backwards for Apple (which they probably are at least a little bit), but don't think they are abandoning Android, the platform that got them to the #1 spot in the mobile phone market. I sure hope the flood of new iPhone users doesn't screw up our wonderful network. Maybe LTE will help take some of the load off.

You made alotta good points, I think the only reason they are allowing pre orders is because of unlimited 4G for the same price as 3g, availability of course my friend I believe the Best Buy Exclusivity is completely true to be honest, hell, I think we would've seen something by now, but now, we haven't, today gentleman, I pre ordered a phone, one without a price, and without a 4g plan, this company is good to its customers, they will treat us well. I have complete faith in them, if they SCREW US OVER though,I'm leaving them, like chris said, we helped em get there, time for them to scratch our backs and I think they most definitely will

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[bladerealm124]

Pre-ordered my thunderbolt this afternoon, the guy told me the 14th I could pick it up, can't waitttt

 

[UNC]

If you're saying the 24th because of Miami's post, then it's the 14th lol

No, I've been saying the 24th since the iPhone was announced.
Saying it here actually...

I would never use Miami's info, after all the stuff he was "told" about the Merge... telling us again and again the wrong specs and release dates. I think I posted on that Merge thread that I was skeptical... but whatever.

The Merge ended up with Sprint as the EVO Shift 4g.

 

[EgooEspada]

I agree with you, but the Merge is still around. Every major carrier was destined for a Desire Z variant. Seems like Verizon didn't find it very good among all the devices. So to not put the device to waste, Altell picked it up.

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[dbgoolsby]

We know the HTC Thunderbolt is going to be unveiled next week, but when do you think the Thunderbolt will actually launch?

According to Black_Man_X it's the 24th

 

[wctaylor79]

Ok todays the day.. Little early I know but we will see what Miami has to show...

 

[gramsey1911]

We know the HTC Thunderbolt is going to be unveiled next week, but when do you think the Thunderbolt will actually launch?

According to Black_Man_X it's the 24th

Maybe the 24th at Big Red Corp Stores...But the 14th at Best Buy. Reason being I asked a Store Manager at a corp store in Raleigh,NC he told me that he knew of the pre-order deal at Best Buy and he also told me that they had a deal with best buy to bring the 'bolt out so Verizon corp can focus on the Iphone which makes sense. Most people won't go through the hassel of buying an Iphone from Big Red corp store then returning it and paying a 35 restocking fee then go to best buy and by the bolt. Also lets face it, we are all android heads and most Iphone users don't have our knowledge base so they don't care. I also called 611 from my DInc and to my shock, tele sales is taking pre orders on the 'bolt but they won't charge your card until the 24th. That is the information I got yesterday around 5pm.

Bottom line for me is who ever gets it first gets it first.

 

[jimmyco2008]

So buying from bestbuy costs as much as buying from a Verizon store or verizonwireless.com?

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[gramsey1911]

So buying from bestbuy costs as much as buying from a Verizon store or verizonwireless.com?

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Yes after all is said and done. Also I got confirmation that 4g will NOT Be extra because whey I pre ordered I saw data price of 29.99 nothing more for 4g. I was also told no activation fee when I pick up the phone as well.

 

[LyCke7y SpLy7]

Huge BS if this is true. I'm not going to sit here and dog anyone or any users credibility on this site but I will vent about the news though. Screw waiting another two weeks for the TB because of the iPhone (I will still buy the TB regardless of how long it takes). Sounds like Big Red is acting like little biatches and climbing under the desk for Apple. I'm really starting to dis-like Verizon. I hope the iPhone fails miserably on Verizon's network.

Well.. it's not Verizon's job to keep YOU happy. They are in a business to make money.

Based on the iPhone breaking records in 2 hours of pre orders, extending the time is a good idea. It gives the iPhone the time to thrive on it's own. Then when the sales in it die down, they release the first LTE phone and sales are back up.

I beg to differ on that one. As a matter of fact it is Verizons responsibilty to keep ME the consumer, as well as YOU and EVERY other person who is on Verizons network happy

Pushing the phone back in all actuality is non-sense IMHO. YOU as well as MYSELF could be very good examples, I am already determined which phone I will be purchasing as I am sure you know which phones you prefer.

I understand the "Business" approach of what they are doing. The bottom line here is that any cell phone user knows what they want in a phone and really makes no difference to US if two high quality phone's release on the same day (or around) as we already have made our minds up on which phone we are buying. Take people that are interested in the Droid Bionic for example, they could care less about when the TB or iPhone release. They just want thier phone.