We’ve received a tip from a fellow by the name of JR who has apparently recently had a chat with a friend of the family who works at corporate for Verizon. While we’re not always jumping at attention for tips from friends of friends, if you know what I mean, this one smells like peanut butter, looks like peanut butter, and you know what? We think it’s pretty much obvious that this is peanut butter. But before we get to the actual pattern she (the Verizon rep) gave that leads to the correct date, let’s talk about what else she said, the funny stuff.

First of all, this Verizon representative told our friend JR that they have a good laugh every time a new rumor spreads through the streets of these internets. In addition to this sweet giggle, the Verizon rep noted that it’s often Verizon employees that help “drop” the false dates that end up propagating sites like the one you’re on right here right now – you dastardly snides! She went on to say that everyone, in their excitement over the product, is making the situation much more complicated than it actually is.

This Verizon rep noted that they did indeed have “technical” issues with the HTC ThunderBolt, and therefor never set a release date. She noted to JR that she wished the record to be set straight that a device can’t be “delayed” if no release date was ever given. She went on to say that the last time Verizon held a conference mentioning the ThunderBolt, it was set for March. She would not give a specific date beyond the month, but made it clear that JR should “look at the pattern of device releases” and he might be clued in on when the device would be launched. What JR took from this last statement, and we agree, is that he ought to look at the big release dates on recent and soon-to-be-released devices carried by Verizon.

First there was the iPhone 4 on February 10.

Then there was the Motorola XOOM on February 24.

Next up is iPad 2 on March 11. [typo, one day difference, apologies]

Then here’s the kicker: HTC ThunderBolt on March 24.

Sound reasonable to you? Sounds reasonable to us. We’re going to go ahead and guess that this device is going to be a gigantically successful one just based on how much attention it’s garnered here for daily views and comments in the multiple release date rumor posts we’ve dug up – then there’s the ads.

Hooray for lightening!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1HuGxkKres

74 COMMENTS

      • I just left a Verizon store and was told, with zero hesitation, that the Thunderbolt will be out on 3/17.

      • I just left a Verizon store and was told, with zero hesitation, that the Thunderbolt will be out on 3/17.

      • I work for the company too, and no one has released any information on the launch date. Anyone in the store is going to be the last to know anything. We didn’t find out about the iPhone launch until that day, just like everyone else. So… I’m pretty sure you’re rep was speculating, just like everyone else. And consequently, please stop asking us, we don’t know anything about launches that hasn’t already been made public. And if we did, don’t you think we’d have to sign confidentiality agreements stating we won’t say anything on penalty of termination?

  5. Im still bettig there will be way ore thunderbolts sold in 3g markets than 4g, so the delay really make little sense. Rural area’s probably wont have 4g coverage for years.

    • Amen, I’ve been waiting two months for this phone, otherwise I would’ve bought a different one. If it doesn’t come soon I will flip. I currently don’t have 4G within 2 hours, but I still want it. Just release it already if the problem is soley with 4G. I hate apple products and the TB is a bit pricey, but not compared to iphone. Just release the damn thing, my BB can’t take anymore.

    • Amen, I’ve been waiting two months for this phone, otherwise I would’ve bought a different one. If it doesn’t come soon I will flip. I currently don’t have 4G within 2 hours, but I still want it. Just release it already if the problem is soley with 4G. I hate apple products and the TB is a bit pricey, but not compared to iphone. Just release the damn thing, my BB can’t take anymore.

  6. I’m still betting there will be waym ore thunderbolts sold in 3g markets than 4g, so the delay really makes little sense. Rural area’s probably wont have 4g coverage for years. (should have read it before i hit send)

  9. Since the iPad 2 is coming out on the 11th, which is one day after the 10th, then the Thunderbolt will come out on the 25th, which is a day after the 24th, which is a Friday, like the 11th, which is when the iPad 2 is coming out, from Verizon, which is where my mother’s friend’s sister-in-law’s ex-husband last saw his brother’s friend work.

    • now thats funnnnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Except that Verizon normally releases new devices on Thursdays… I’m willing to bet that the only reason the iPad 2 is coming out on a Friday is because Apple strong-armed the company.

  10. Since the iPad 2 is coming out on the 11th, which is one day after the 10th, then the Thunderbolt will come out on the 25th, which is a day after the 24th, which is a Friday, like the 11th, which is when the iPad 2 is coming out, from Verizon, which is where my mother’s friend’s sister-in-law’s ex-husband last saw his brother’s friend work.

  11. Yep, just another rumor on a second rate site. Stop reporting crap or your reputation will end up being crap.

  12. ipad 2 comes out at 5pm on Friday… I work at a retailer and we have had strict strict rules sent to us from Apple saying we absolutely can not sell it before then. If a person buy’s it online from a earlier timezone and pick it up in store it will ring up as $10,000. They have all the loop holes covered…

  13. All I can say is FU verizon. Stop jerking around because you are not selling iPhones as fast as you expected. If the market wants a better product then deliver it!

  14. OMG i mean OMG i have been waiting for this phone like 4 ever now and I can not wait any longer is this the real date or just a rumor again like the last 1

  16. Thunderbolt not delayed because of iphone, or battery life, or LTE switching faults, those were worked out way back in december. The LTE phones had no such problems at MWC or any other show they were revealed at, the problem is Verizon are appalled that HTC would build simultanious voice and data over CDMA into the phone without clearing it with them first, so now Verizon is trying to find a way to turn that feature off before they release the phone. The results have been the software patches introduced to turn this feature off have proven detrimental to the battery life, LTE switching, and whatever other excuse they wish to come up with. Dont believe the hype, and take bets on whether or not the simultanious voice and date over CDMA will be intact when the phone is finally released….LOL

    • Uhhh you do realize that those phones at those conferences run demo software, and are not fully operational. Also a Femtocell is running near by, so any demonstration as to the speed of said devices is not off a 4g network, but a “mini-cell” tower off highspeed internet…. right?

  17. Verizon can try to spin this any way they want. Fact of the matter is a company the size of Best Buy doesn’t start pre-orders 2 months in advance. They also dont put products that are a month and a half away in their circular every week.

  20. idk y u guys r jumping on the 4g lte bandwagon soo soon watch next thing u know u are all gonna b dissapointed in the thunderbolt thats y ima wait for the BIONIC now thats a real head turner

  21. “Haha?” Well, I hope that Verizon reps and individuals had a good laugh over this one, sounds like BS to me. A way of covering their A$$ so they don’t have to admit fault for a failed launch. Laugh it up Verizon, I was all for this device, till it turned into a waiting game, but now myself among a many others have moved on. Three months later and no Release date? After ads galore, commercial spots, built up marketing…Jokes on you and you’ll see it when you get a low sales for this outdated POS.

  22. it’s a fucking phone from a company that has no belief in customer retention, only how they can milk those people that “want it now”. Get over it. Demand decreases, so does the price and the data packages get better. We’re our own worst enemy in this bigger, better, faster, more mentality. (and yes, I’m guilty of it too)

  23. My friends brothers sisters cousins aunt, works at VZW and she told me that her uncles nephews little sisters half cousin told her that the release date was the 24th of March.

    Oh, btw, my source is “VERY RELIABLE”!!!!!!

    You people are pathetic. Stop speculating and posting this rumored garbage. Some people will believe just about anything these days.

    • so your friends aunt, works at VZW and she told you that her uncles half nephew/niece told her that the release date was the 24th of march. Don’t be a smart ass. The phone will come out. nud sed.

  30. I for one have had enough of this crap. Went to Best Buy this evening to get my pre-order deposit refunded. They had no idea what to do but luckily I got it back. I’m starting to think that the new 4G service and phones may not be worth the headache of the alleged issues which will probably continue for awhile. Maybe next year for 4G. For now, what 3G phone to consider instead???

  31. Verizon can shove it. They seem to get their kicks by keeping the consumer confused. Enough is enough. Either the Iphone 5, or a better device later in the year, or a better device on another carrier. Besides this device is a monster size, though I realize that some people prefer that. Also, there are rumored battery problems and 4G is not even in that many locations yet. Plus, they will eventually likely charge more for 4G devices.

    • What makes you think it’s Verizon “keeping the consumer confused?” It’s the manufacturer that has to have the phone ready. You think they want to keep people from buying new phones and signing their contracts? And there’s been no indication of what data charges will be on 4g, so how can you speculate that they will be more? Stop stirring up anger and fear when you have no evidence supporting anything.

    • you realise verizon never once even remotely released a release date themselves. other than by the end of quarter 1, which in fact has not arrived yet

  32. MAJOR UPDATE! I just found out that the Thunderbolt will not be released tomorrow! I repeat – the Thunderbolt will NOT be released tomorrow. However, there will be several dozen blog postings confirming the same. Thank you for your support……

    • That is a suprise. I thought it was really going to be released on the 11th. I also, thought we were going to be out of Iraq soon. Rumsfield said we would be out of Irag in nine weeks. That was ten years ago. Oh ya, and Pres. dumb ass Bush was claiming victory. I’m sure Verizon has a handle on everything. WTF.

    • That is a suprise. I thought it was really going to be released on the 11th. I also, thought we were going to be out of Iraq soon. Rumsfield said we would be out of Irag in nine weeks. That was ten years ago. Oh ya, and Pres. dumb ass Bush was claiming victory. I’m sure Verizon has a handle on everything. WTF.

  33. no way, this phone is just about D O A. I wanted this phone really bad in early Feb but now they won’t even give us a real clue like, Its coming out on or very near to _____ date. And to say it never had a release date in Feb is lying. What about the web commercials we saw and the best buy ads came out. It WAS slated for Feb but they(verizon) kept denying it. They could have said, yea it was supposed to come out but we had problems so now its been pushed back. They could even say they didn’t know exactly when it would be released or tell us they are shooting for a date, but its not set in stone. Why the lies Verizon? Now time has gone bye and a lot of people will just wait for a similar but better version, maybe even one from a different company. They lost out on a bunch of sales and bad PR/Customer Service lies.

  34. Verizon, there’s a damn commercial for god’s sake! CES says in a few weeks, the website said very soon, and that was weeks ago. You really screwed this one up verizon, no matter what you say. People are actually sick of the thunderbolt now and seriously thinking of switching to other carriers. The phone will no longer impress due to the hype of this phone, due to the delay. The moto Atrix, HTC inspire look really nice.

  35. You know it’s really strange but now the rumors are saying March 24 as the release date. Wirefly is one of the largest cell phone sales on line and they had the Thunderbolt listed up til this morning as coming soon but if you go to their site now it’s not even there. Do they know something we don’t? Or are they getting hammered with 20 questions and they are tired of it? Its been so long now that I’m just going to wait for the Bionic to come out. Who knows maybe it will beat the release on the Thunderbolt.

  36. You know it’s really strange but now the rumors are saying March 24 as the release date. Wirefly is one of the largest cell phone sales on line and they had the Thunderbolt listed up til this morning as coming soon but if you go to their site now it’s not even there. Do they know something we don’t? Or are they getting hammered with 20 questions and they are tired of it? Its been so long now that I’m just going to wait for the Bionic to come out. Who knows maybe it will beat the release on the Thunderbolt.

  38. hey I just purchased my thunderbolt phone. works like a champ. They had them on sale at santas toy factory and toys r us. Both sold for $39.95 no contract or tax.

  39. I got tired of waiting. Switched to Sprint. Got the Evo. I like it so far. And besides Verizon won’t have 4G where I live or work until…??? And 4G LTE… I’m not all that up on technology, but it sounds like 4G on a diet… so when you finally get the Thunderbolt, and when Verizon someday gets around to getting 4G into your neighborhood, that Thunderbolt will not even be able to function like a full fledged 4G phone. I don’t just like the Evo. I LOVE parting with Verizon. I REALLY dislike them as a company.

  40. chris burns…you don’t know anyone who knows anyone inside of vzw …didn’t release a month ago with all that dates ur website rumored it to be…not gonna release with any of the dates u have posted

  41. chris burns…you don’t know anyone who knows anyone inside of vzw …didn’t release a month ago with all that dates ur website rumored it to be…not gonna release with any of the dates u have posted

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