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

One of the greatest features of Windows Phone 7 has got to be the clean, speedy, distinctive UI which manages to offer a different and instantly recognisable experience in a market where competitors are simply copying the Apple iOS. It has been no secret that Microsoft has been VERY protective of the UI and home screen, hoping to avoid the past “mistakes” of allowing OEMs to modify the users experience to the point of being un-useable and unrecognisable. However, HTC wishes to bring its own unique modifications and customisations to the WP7 experience – and believes, over time, Microsoft will allow them to do just that.

“We have a good relationship with Microsoft so we’re continuing to work with them to figure out how to enable a Sense experience without breaking their model.  Our expectation is that we will be able to do more over time.”

There have been long hints that HTC wished to bring their Sense UI overlay to WP7, but they have been so far unsuccessful – at  least with the first batch of devices. The overlay, which HTC has applied to many of their Windows Mobile and Android devices have been variously praised for its features and criticised for causing performance hits – to the point of a phone having to be soft reset. HTC’s priorities are clearly to have a HTP WP7 device be undeniably recognisable as an “HTC Phone”, whereas Microsoft’s aim (as with all of WP7) is for a device to be instantly recognized as a “Windows Phone.”

So with all that said, what do you PPCGeekers think?  Would Sense UI be a vast improvement on WP7, or would allowing OEMs to modify the UI drastically open WP7 up to a future failure? Do you think that HTC could make a UI that is simple, fast, responsive, and not give the device, or Microsoft a bad name?  Let us know in the comments below!

Source: wmpoweruser.com