HTC Thunderbolt Release Date

[StinkyPete]

I just don't see this whole 14 day return policy thing being a valid reason - I have always looked at the customer audience for these phones as completely different. Anyone who would run out and get an iPhone on day one (or day four or whatever) is not going to flip to an Android phone. It's not like Verizon had some catastrophic bad network situation or something with the release of the iPhone that would cause people to want to dump it. You knew what you were getting with the iPhone and you got it.

I also don't think poor iPhone sales (or lower than expected if you like) would be a reason to push it back. Again - two different audiences. I just really don't see people trying to pick between the iPhone and the TB and saying... well if they delay that darn TB one more week... I am going iPhone!

Based on the HTC CEO's mention at the conference - it was a shipping "issue" if you want to call it that. Once it starts shipping and arriving, it will not sit in the back room at Verizon since money will start being paid to HTC from Verizon for the items shipped. Verizon needs to start getting revenue back in to cover that outlay from all of us who are infected with TB wacko.

I think the most interesting thing will be if Verizon increased the amount in the first shipment from HTC so the TB wouldn't sell out and look more popular than the iPhone. THAT is a reason I can see it being delayed - send me more HTC so I don't sell out of it in the first week and have to explain to the media why we are NOT sold out of iPhones but we ARE sold out of TBs.

 

[guitarchris123]

By the way, there is a guy in the AndroidForums who works for best buy - he is at work and is checking on all types of info - - he said he just looked at next weeks ad and Thunderbolt is listed as new! He's about to upload a screenshot. It was his screenshot of the 2-21-2011 release date stuff too. The thread is Best Buy Details - Page 3 - Android Forums and the guy is jayishere

That guy is saying "street date" of 2-21, I think it is possible he was mistaken and meant "in stock" date since we've already seen the BB screen shot for that. Also, we saw this Sunday's BB ad a long time ago, so that's nothing new and doesn't tell us much except that the ad didn't change to say "coming soon" or "pre-order," so I guess that's a good sign at least.

 

[xXJakeXx]

By the way, there is a guy in the AndroidForums who works for best buy - he is at work and is checking on all types of info - - he said he just looked at next weeks ad and Thunderbolt is listed as new! He's about to upload a screenshot. It was his screenshot of the 2-21-2011 release date stuff too. The thread is Best Buy Details - Page 3 - Android Forums and the guy is jayishere

That guy is saying "street date" of 2-21, I think it is possible he was mistaken and meant "in stock" date since we've already seen the BB screen shot for that. Also, we saw this Sunday's BB ad a long time ago, so that's nothing new and doesn't tell us much except that the ad didn't change to say "coming soon" or "pre-order," so I guess that's a good sign at least.

Isn't the guy saying its deploying presidents day? Because its in sundays ad?

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[asu23justice]

Isn't the guy saying its deploying presidents day? Because its in sundays ad?

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Well in his last post he says they technically have to sell it since the ad says NEW and not coming soon or 2/24

Take it for what its worth, he's been pretty interesting to follow - like i said he leaked the pic of the 2-21-2011 in-stock date so he's doing his best to get accurate info out there.

 

[Jas O]

I think the most interesting thing will be if Verizon increased the amount in the first shipment from HTC so the TB wouldn't sell out and look more popular than the iPhone. THAT is a reason I can see it being delayed - send me more HTC so I don't sell out of it in the first week and have to explain to the media why we are NOT sold out of iPhones but we ARE sold out of TBs.

+1 Interesting thought

 

[hookbill]

For the most part this thread is on topic. Please keep it that way, post that are not on topic will be deleted. Thank you.

 

[Thevaristy]

Guy I spoke with at VZW today said the 24th is set for both VZW stores and BB.

subsidized price as we all know is $350....he said there will be a $140 rebate for a 2 year contract and a $70 rebate for 1 year.

also he confirmed that the unlimited 4G pricing will be the same as the 3G pricing for the time being...but said that he would not be surprised if by the end of the year they went to tiered....and eliminated the unlimited all together.

he also hinted to get used to having the "big phone" release staggered like they have been from now on. Saying TB will be this month...DX2 should be next month...did not know what would be after that...but said Bionic would be May the earliest.

Where does $350 come from? I had not heard that number, only the $250. They wont sell too many of these at a $350 price point.

 

[hemorrdroid]

This is the first I have heard of $350

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[matthewthegreat]

If I was a gambler (which I'm not) I would bet on the 21st being the date.

 

[dll1477]

I just don't see this whole 14 day return policy thing being a valid reason - I have always looked at the customer audience for these phones as completely different. Anyone who would run out and get an iPhone on day one (or day four or whatever) is not going to flip to an Android phone. It's not like Verizon had some catastrophic bad network situation or something with the release of the iPhone that would cause people to want to dump it. You knew what you were getting with the iPhone and you got it.

you make a good point that the ihype disease is not likely to affect android fans, but generally I'd suggest that iphone users tend to be less technically informed and more driven to hysteria over a marketing phenomenon. I don't have data for that conclusion, other than anectotal evidence of some who chose the iphone "becauses its cool" without knowing any of the technical detail.

So it's still quite feasible in my mind that with all the excitement over the iphone, that its 3G status might cause buyer's remorse, or certainly buyer's heasitation if a 4G phone were available at the same time. Imagine if VZW corrupted the iphone introduction with real factual comparisons! Clearly, VZW themselves have not given the buying public a ghost of a chance at making an informed decision themselves on this point, either through the stores or online, and all I'm saying is that there's a good chance in my opinion that Apple's legal machine had a hand in that. They don't want to be shown up by a 4G device stealing the iphone thunder, no pun intended. Quite simply, the iphone had to have its day in the sun.

I'm not so sure anymore that there is magic in exactly 14 days, but rather some period of un-interrupted sunshine for the iphone. That is clearly what VZW is carrying out. Its probably less important (per your point), but not un-important, to make it difficult for anyone to return the iphone for somethign 4G.

I just tend to think that all the TB chatter, in contrast to VZW's utter silence, is consistent with this theory, and that when iphone has had its day in the sun, we will see the TB.

 

[jtastic33]

Is the tb a global phone like the pro and droid 2 global

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[want a droid]

No

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[TheOldFart]

Where does $350 come from? I had not heard that number, only the $250. They wont sell too many of these at a $350 price point.

They sold a lot of Droids at $300 - a $100 rebate for a 2 year contract. Not much different between that and $350 - $140 for a 2 year contract.

 

[stuigi]

LTE question

I understand that the LTE network uses a sim card. If i already have a 3g data plan with Verizon and I am upgrading, will I automatically get an LTE sim card?

 

[DaWolf85]

I understand that the LTE network uses a sim card. If i already have a 3g data plan with Verizon and I am upgrading, will I automatically get an LTE sim card?

You get an LTE sim card when you activate your LTE device, is my understanding.