You’ve heard essentially every single date from here to the end of February for a release date for the ThunderBolt, the pre-order for ThunderBolt, and everything else in between. For instance there was a February 28th date for release, a February 24th date for release, and even a March 10th date for release. All of these may very well be untrue given the seemingly undercover photo we’ve just been slipped. Here it appears that the official release date for the HTC ThunderBolt at Best Buy on Verizon is March 10th, 2011.

Now this is a tip of the semi-anonymous tip, a cool tipper by the name of catalase, but the amount of tips of this type we’ve received of this type in the past that ended up being true weighed up against those that ended up being bunk are very much so tipped in favor of truthiness, if you know what I mean. But why has there been so much coverage of the release date for this particular phone, you might ask? Because it’s a freaking awesome phone, that’s why, you silly.

Have a look at the coverage we’ve already got here on Android Community and behold below our hands-on video we collected back at CES 2011. This nice lady will let you know all about this phone that’s currently driving the entire Android world bonkers:

[vms 3a2b5af89203c2b78c67]

— thanks again, catalase!

67 COMMENTS

  1. i was really hoping for the 3rd/4th theory…. i just want the damned phone. The 10th is too far away, and i’ve been waiting since the 6th when i threw in the $50 @ BB. Wait,…. does this mean i have to pay for the Buy Back thing? If so, i’ll buy the TBOLT from VZW directly, if and when it comes out. Hopefully next week.

    • Here is something ridiculous … Last Saturday my wife and I were at a Best Buy Mobile and were told the 24th for sure. My wife stopped in yesterday and the same guy told her “It was released today but we don’t have them yet. The phones have been shipped to us but we’re not sure what day they will arrive.”. This is ridiculous! Starting to think that they can keep their Thunderbolt and I’ll wait to see what the iPhone 5 ends up being like. By then a number of other 4G phones will also be available on Verizon to choose from if I don’t like it – including the Motorola Bionic which sounds a bit better than the Thunderbolt.

    • Here is something ridiculous … Last Saturday my wife and I were at a Best Buy Mobile and were told the 24th for sure. My wife stopped in yesterday and the same guy told her “It was released today but we don’t have them yet. The phones have been shipped to us but we’re not sure what day they will arrive.”. This is ridiculous! Starting to think that they can keep their Thunderbolt and I’ll wait to see what the iPhone 5 ends up being like. By then a number of other 4G phones will also be available on Verizon to choose from if I don’t like it – including the Motorola Bionic which sounds a bit better than the Thunderbolt.

  3. if march is the true release date why is the thunderbolt in this weeks best buy ad which is for the dates of feb,20 through feb.26.just saying thanks

    • people relaxx. the tb is still at the drawing board of htc coz they screwd up the battery specs… there was a lot of complained of the evo coz of the battery. So, before we have it everything will be perfect…and there will be thunder all over…

  5. all i can say is non of us on here will ever know the TRUE release date.although this seems very convincing. believe me im bummed and impatient as most of you are on here but instead of guesing just relax it will be out when its out and if you really want it althought as irritating as it may seem it will be well worth the waite. as far as any info i have seen i went on best buys sight and say it t-bolt in there paper with the price but no release date. the only thing that gave me some what hope was the pricing on the weekly add was suppose to be in affect FEB 20th – FEB 26th. so i thought hey maybe it will be released by then. but as i said im not here to give out incorrect information nor am i saying my hopping was a accurate release date. im just posting what i saw on bestbuy.com. i also called a best buy rep to see what was up they aid no release date by shouldnt be past Feb 28t. so that as well gave me hope. but then i read information there was proof for march 3rd 4th ansd 10th. this is seriously mind nausa. lol lets just all hope verizon,htc,and bestbuy get this show on the road and stop the madness with the guessing of the release dates. thanks for reading and sorry for any errors. im kinda doing this fast lol. thanks agian.

  6. We have seen “secret” screens and paperwork with dates that came and left before. The 10th makes sense, Feb. 10 release of the IPhone, 2 weeks later Feb 24 release of the Zoom Tablet, two weeks later March 10th the Thunderbolt. A Verizon Mgr. told me the Monday dates aren’t true because Verizon likes to release on a Thursday.

  8. Everyone is so upset with the release date fiasco, but neither HTC or Verizon ever said a date for the phone. BB is advertising but i think its the BB marketing department that is trying to get more ppl to pre-order the phone and that is it. I want a smartphone and i was hoping for the TBolt as I did not want to wait till June-July for the Bionic and I dont really need a 2 core chip. But, all of us need to remember that all the information online is just rumors. I can photo shop pages like this all day long as its not complicated. So how about we stop paying attention to unfounded rumors and wait for Verizon or HTC to make an official announcement. I know its hard to wait for stuff but getting upset over rumors is just silly.

    • It’s never going to be announced, shit verizon told me on the 24th over the phone that it was already released. Nobody at verizon or HTC has a clue what they are doing. All I know is that my iPhone crashes more than windows 98 and I’m ready for verison or HTC to grow a pair and give me an honest date so I can plan to make the purchase.

  9. Sounds to me like something is wrong and they are scrambling to fix it. I think whatever the release date is, it would be better to wait a month or so for information on how well it actually works.

  11. the reason for pushing the date is verizon needs to sell more i phones and doesnt need more comp. apple will not tolerate low sales and verizon knowes this. i promise this is the truth.

  14. We have seen these screen shots etc before and they meant nothing
    Feb 25, CONSUMER REPORTS THEY WILL NOT RECOMMEND THE VERIZON APPLE IPHONE 4 BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME ANTENA PROBLEM THE ORIGINAL IPHONE 4 HAD. VERIZON AND APPLE DENY IT. (Search for the article) So rather than allow people to return them and get a Thunderbolt, Verizon will stick them with them until the return period is over and/or the customers get use to the defective phones. Thunderbolt Release date on hold for a long time maybe. Stick those customers wanting it too, especially the pre-buyers at Best Buy

    • my father just got the new verizon iphone after switching from his AT&T iphone and it has the exact same antenna problem. the ONLY difference is that it says verizon on the top left of the screen instead of AT&T.

      i am still waiting for the thunderbolt…….

  15. Its because they are having battery issues………It doesnt last long because of the LtE network so they are working on an update for better battery resistance….true story.

  16. I have A Verizon iPhone it really sucks “( I had to sela my Droid 2 to buy me a better phone but the apple phone is a pease of $h1t I’m going to return it back.

  17. I hope to god that it’s a battery problem and they’re fixing it! As innovative as HTC is I struggle with their decision to place a 1400mAh battery in the Tbolt. Verizon and HTC need to listen to customer complaints. This is the main issue with popular phones like the incredible and Evo. People have to buy batteries that are at the least 1800mAh to 3200mAh, just to have sufficient battery life. So, Why would you only place a 1400mAh battery? A more efficient processor is great, but large screen, 4gLTE, skype video chat all adds up. Looks like I will have to fork out money on a better battery when I get the Tbolt. Actually, there are websites that are already geared up to sell them.

  18. I know exactly when the Thunderbolt is coming out… when its out. It’s a phone why all the anxiety? Get a life folks!

  19. I know exactly when the Thunderbolt is coming out… when its out. It’s a phone why all the anxiety? Get a life folks!

  20. I know exactly when the Thunderbolt is coming out… when its out. It’s a phone why all the anxiety? Get a life folks!

    • cybsk…like you’ve never been excited for anything that you want to get thats going to be coming out..or “anxiety” about something in life? by the way your talking sounds like not so much…so why don’t YOU get a life

    • Because I’ve been nursing along my 3-year old Verizon Windows 6.5 smartphone for a few months, the battery is now so bad that I only have 10 minutes talk time before it dies, and my number one problem with it for the last two years is that I couldn’t do voice+web at the same time (tethered) and I’ll be able to do that once the first LTE phone comes out.

      (And yes, I want the Verizon phone network coverage; AT&T has been a non-starter.) I told myself in December when the USB LTE stuff came out that (partially because it was more expensive than tethering) I could hold out and wait for LTE on my phone. And I told myself when the VZ iPhone came out that I really needed voice+data more than iFanciness. But the longer I wait, the more pain in the meantime, and if my phone dies tomorrow and Thunderbolt comes out next week, I’m screwed; I’ll have to get a suboptimal choice even after all the waiting.

      • Maybe just getting a Nexus S is your best choice, yes?

        Chris “Burnsy” Burns
        R3 Media LCC c/o Android Community

        [phone] +1 (320) 248 1388
        [aim] idealneo
        [twitter] @androids @t_chrisburns

  21. Who is the joker with the ADD who won’t shut up? Giving me a headache. I’m about to turn this off from the distraction.

  22. Who is the joker with the ADD who won’t shut up? Giving me a headache. I’m about to turn this off from the distraction.

  23. O.k. my husband just went to Verizon to inquire about when this phone might be released. They have no idea. However, the salesperson told him that it was really no different than the iphone. Are you kidding me? If I wanted the iphone, I would have bought the iphone!

      • I have had the Iphone since day one…You either love it or hate it. I still like it because the Apps are actually usable and most android apps are junk. They are not kidding when it comes to the App store vs Android market. Here is why I want the thunderbolt: 1) 4G, 2) The use of Widgets and customization 3) although I like iOS, they have had virtually the same OS since day 1. Yes a few tweaks here and there but virtually the same design. 4) Android market is getting better but nowhere near the setup and ease of use of the App Store.

  24. OK Here you go…..
    It’s all “stupid verizon phone politics”!!! and that comes directly from sources at HTC!!!
    And just incase you didn’t know…Apple is REALLY SCREWING THINGS UP for us at verizon!
    all their “side contract rules” that VZW has to abide by! Like only 14 days to try out a phone and not 30 like normal! Because that’s what apple is! and so much of display area in each store! etc, etc, etc….!
    Gee….and I wonder why I HATE APPLE!!!!!!!

      • Hopefully, it will be March10th. And, I also hate apple! BTW, what happened to the 30 day window on new phones? Now, it’s only 14?

    • Not true….AT&T allows 30 day returns for all phones including the Apple Iphone. It is called Buyer’s remorse. This is something that Verizon changed before the Apple Iphone release and was coming in 2011. Apparently Verizon thinks 14 days is long enough to try a phone and not get assessed an ETF. I agree for the most part. 14 days is plenty of time to try before you buy. I do agree that Apple may be behind the scenes stopping the sales of new phones, but I do not agree that they are the reason for the 30 to 14 day return policy…

  27. Look at the Verizon website!!! They are promoting the release of the 3G Apple iPad 2 for March 11 with no date for the Thunderbolt advertised on a back page of the site with Soon. The TB will tie their people up for a week. The March 10 date is never going to happen. I spoke with people from Sprint and ATT who are gaining VZ customers they tell me. VZ stock is about to take a dive when stockholders learn of the dropping subscriber numbers which will be followed by rate hikes to VZ customers to show a profit. Not sure I like VZ anymore. No phone 4g service after Sprint has had it for almost a year.

  28. Look at the Verizon website!!! They are promoting the release of the 3G Apple iPad 2 for March 11 with no date for the Thunderbolt advertised on a back page of the site with Soon. The TB will tie their people up for a week. The March 10 date is never going to happen. I spoke with people from Sprint and ATT who are gaining VZ customers they tell me. VZ stock is about to take a dive when stockholders learn of the dropping subscriber numbers which will be followed by rate hikes to VZ customers to show a profit. Not sure I like VZ anymore. No phone 4g service after Sprint has had it for almost a year.

    • But Sprint and ATT service Sucks. Been with Verizon for 8 years and never once had a dropped call. I know a ton of people both on Sprint and ATT and complain about dropped calls all the time. Sprint customers at time don’t receive text for up to 24 hrs. That could mean me loosing a client of thousands of dollars. I will call Sprint customers and receive a message “All systems are busy try your call again later” and will not even dump you into VM.

      • I have been with AT&T for 5 years and never dropped a call either. Have been in nearly all 50 states and some major rural and large cities. Never had an issue. The reason I don’t want to stay with them is because I need a local number for the St Louis area and they work in zones. So If you have a phone in say ohio you have to have an ohio number. If you move zones they make you open a new account. Total BS….The Thunderbolt is also making me want to move more but cannot figure out VZW public relations. It is really bad this time around.

    • But Sprint and ATT service Sucks. Been with Verizon for 8 years and never once had a dropped call. I know a ton of people both on Sprint and ATT and complain about dropped calls all the time. Sprint customers at time don’t receive text for up to 24 hrs. That could mean me loosing a client of thousands of dollars. I will call Sprint customers and receive a message “All systems are busy try your call again later” and will not even dump you into VM.

    • “I spoke with people from Sprint and ATT who are gaining VZ customers they tell me.”

      Of course other companies are going to tell you anything that gives you confidence in them and diminishes confidence in others. I’m not saying that what they are telling you isn’t true, but I am saying I sure as hell wouldn’t believe it coming from there own mouths.

  29. I waited and waited for the iPhone on Verizon. I’ve been on Verizon( AirTouch, Pactel Cellular, Pactel Mobile Access) since June of 1984 here in Los Angeles. Anyway, finally got the iPhone and I hated it! I returned it two days later. And now I sit and I wait for the Thunderbolt. My wife has the Sprint EVO and it is an awesome phone and we only live in a 3g area. I can only imagine what the Thunderbolt will be like on the Verizon 4g network. Am I frustrated with all the delays???You bet I am!!! But I will tell you this, I have to believe the wait will be worth it and it’s like everything else in the world that you just “have to have”, you wait and when you finally get in your hands, 99% of the time it was worth the wait and you forget about how long it took to get it. So patience is and will always be a virtue. The Thunderbolt WILL BE worth the wait!!!

  30. This just in and many people will be happy to know. Verizon Wireless will be releaseing the new HTC Thunderbolt no later than December 31st 2011.

  31. I heard the motorola “BIONIC”, which comes out later this year was the “IPHONE KILLER”. which is better, the thunderbolt or bionic?

  32. hey chris burns go fuck yourself for all the false rumors that you have spread. nothing, not a dam thing has ever come from verizon about anything about any release. olny from lying cock suckers like you

  33. hey chris burns go fuck yourself for all the false rumors that you have spread. nothing, not a dam thing has ever come from verizon about anything about any release. olny from lying cock suckers like you

  34. hey chris burns go fuck yourself for all the false rumors that you have spread. nothing, not a dam thing has ever come from verizon about anything about any release. olny from lying cock suckers like you

  35. I just received this email. Prol means nothing!

    “Dear Paul,

    Thank you for your recent reservation of the Verizon ThunderBolt 4G by HTC with Best Buy.

    This e-mail is an additional confirmation that your smart phone is reserved in your name. We will contact you as soon as your smart phone is available.

    Thank you from your Best Buy Mobile™ Team!”

  36. I just received this email. Prol means nothing!

    “Dear Paul,

    Thank you for your recent reservation of the Verizon ThunderBolt 4G by HTC with Best Buy.

    This e-mail is an additional confirmation that your smart phone is reserved in your name. We will contact you as soon as your smart phone is available.

    Thank you from your Best Buy Mobile™ Team!”

  37.  Best Buy is a great company, but like many nationwide businesses it
    can have some weak spots. I was surfing the internet and I found this
    site where people can vent about poor customer service or products
    they received… it can get really funny. I would recommend you to
    check it out here.

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