Verizon’s HTC Thunderbolt is coming March 17th – Happy Saint Patricks Day!
The rumors can finally end because Verizon Wireless has made the release date and price of the HTC ThunderBolt handset official. The release date is March 17th and the device will have a $249.99 price tag. The LTE data will be the same rate as the current 3G devices, $29.99 per month for unlimited use. Verizon will also provide mobile hotspot capabilities to all ThunderBolt owners for free until May 15th. This is something few carriers are offering at the current time.
Are you getting one? Have you been waiting to use your upgrade and last New Every Two credit? If so, now is the time to get this bad boy! Verizon Wireless has even put up a Thunderbolt Tracker found here. You simply enter your email and as soon as it's released they will send you information. Who knows what else? Go for it!
Take a look at the press release below:
THE THUNDERBOLT™ BY HTC, THE FIRST 4G LTE SMARTPHONE FOR VERIZON WIRELESS ARRIVES MARCH 17
ThunderBolt™ by HTC Available Beginning March 17
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced that the ThunderBolt™ by HTC, exclusively from Verizon Wireless, is available on March 17 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $249.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
Powered by Android™ 2.2, the ThunderBolt by HTC is the first smartphone to take advantage of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. The ThunderBolt by HTC features the latest version of the HTC Sense™ experience, which offers enhancements including new personalization options, a consolidated e-mail inbox, and unique camera effects and filters. The ThunderBolt by HTC is equipped with support for Google Mobile Services, including Gmail™, YouTube™ and Android Market™ with thousands of free apps. Additionally, the ThunderBolt by HTC will feature 4G LTE optimized apps such as EA’s Rock Band, Gameloft’s Let’s Golf, Tunewiki and Bitbop.
Additional features:
- 4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area
- 4.3” WVGA display
- 8- megapixel rear facing camera and HD (720p) video recording
- 1.3- megapixel front facing camera with video chatting capabilities
- Newest generation of the 1GHz Snapdragon processor
- Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices
- 8 GB of onboard memory and a pre-installed 32 GB microSD card (Actual formatted capacity will be less)
- Built-in kickstand for easy media viewing
With the ThunderBolt by HTC, customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access and an unlimited 4G LTE data plan is $29.99 monthly access.
Mobile Hotspot allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the nation’s fastest wireless network via an application available on the ThunderBolt by HTC. Mobile Hotspot will be included through May 15 for no additional charge. After May 15, customers may choose to activate Mobile Hotspot for $20 for 2 GB of data per month. Customers can track their data usage by downloading the My Verizon app available in Android Market or by logging on to their My Verizon accounts online at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.
For additional information on Verizon Wireless 4G LTE visit www.verizonwireless.com/4glte. For more information about the ThunderBolt by HTC please visit www.verizonwireless.com/thunderbolt. For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
Source: BGR via Verizon Wireless
© 2011, GirlGoneGeek. All rights reserved.
About to make the switch from Windows to Android …. at least it’s for a pretty cool phone. Though I’m not giving up on WM. I’m just hoping the next couple years they do more work on the new phones and software to actually be a competitor.
Courtney1985 Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 10:56 am
@bentleysmom, I think most of us would have to agree with you
I posted the release date yesterday in the last thunderbolt post comment section along with the HTC Trophy and other devices as well.
Are we sure about this?
“The LTE data will be the same rate as the current 3G devices, $29.99 per month for unlimited use. ”
All reports I have seen says that when you update to LTE that Unlimited data will no longer be an option even if you have unlimited data already as they force you into a new contract.
Maybe this is a perk for early adopters I don’t know but I will not change unless I can be assured Unlimited data actually means UNLIMITED data!
Nice phone but this is pretty much the same as the Sprint EVO 4G and a year later.
mapaz04 Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
@Pandaman, +1 on that… But then again, many phones that are coming out now fall in this category…
whetzel Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
@Pandaman,
It always cracks me up when people say that the Thunderbolt is “the same as the EVO”. It just goes to show how un-educated some people really are.
Personally, I’m tired of showing the differences, but with a little bit of searching, you will see that, other than being made by the same manufacturer and having the same sized screen, they completely different phones.
Wirefly did a comparison video on youtube if you want to actually see some of the differences.
GoodThings2Life Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 6:09 am
@whetzel, the simple fact is that aside from cosmetic changes, bigger SD card, and the new generation of processor it IS the EVO. Yes, it’s faster as a result… considerably so. It is effectively an EVO2, and I find nothing wrong with the comparison. If anything, it’s about time that Verizon had a matching phone in their arsenal.
way to release this to interfere with the trophy release, which still hasn’t had an article yet despite numerous tips.
Asphyx Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 11:25 am
@eric12341,
Must suck being devoted to the runt of the litter eh?
You know why the Trophy isn’t getting the attention you want it to?
3G not 4G!
eric12341 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
@Asphyx, who cares if its 4G or not
Asphyx Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
@eric12341,
Anyone who uses their phone for more than making calls and sending texts thats who!
itster Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 9:58 am
@Asphyx, i don’t think many people really care about 4g as of yet..
iphone and ipad 2 sales are a clear example
Asphyx Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@itster,
iPhone and iPad are selling because they are sold dirt cheap by Apple because they know they will make all that money back on App sales through iTunes!
Same reason why $900 worth of computer hardware in an XBox and PS3 is sold for $300 and change. Because the game developers PAY Sony and MS for the priviledge to write software for those units. They lose money selling you hardware so there is lots of it out there and make money off the people who develop software to run on it.
So everytime you buy an App or music on iTunes some of that money goes to pay off the money they lost selling you $700 worth of hardware for $399.
A revenue source neither Samsung or Motorola have to offset the cost of their hardware!
Google makes that money instead.
what will be the best way to copy over contact and txt from omina to thunderbolt?
itster Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 9:55 am
@doogie63,
http://www.godswmobile.com/how-to-transfer-contacts-from-windows-mobile-to-gmail.html