We’ve got a bit of an inside source who has come forth from the state below yours truly, from the city I love best in this most cheesetastic of states, Madison, Wisconsin. This source also has the most awesome of names, Chris, and has spoken with a Verizon Representative that’s given him new info on what’s become the most popular set of subjects surrounding the HTC ThunderBolt in these most current weeks: when is the ThunderBolt coming out, and why hasn’t it come out yet?

First of all, Chris asked this Verizon representative why the phone hadn’t yet been released even though the crowds of Android fans were more wild and ravenous than a pack of starving crazed weasels – she said that even though the original release date was officially February 24th, 2011, Verizon had a problem with the switch between 3G and 4G LTE. This representative for Verizon said that the group was not satisfied with data switching between the two connection speeds, and that the transfer between the two connections was not as “seamless” as they truly desired.

Finally, the Verizon representative let it be known that she did not know the exact release date of the HTC ThunderBolt, but that she knew it would not be coming out this week because of the iPad 2 release. Her exact words, apparently, where “we don’t know but we have the iPad2 coming out this week” to which our tipper asked “so not this week” receiving a friendly smile and head nod.

Thank you Chris for asking this seemingly very friendly Verizon rep for information in such a way that would make her feel like sending it unto the world was not a crime. And to you reps in the stores – tell us everything you know! We promise not to tell anyone but our friends.

70 COMMENTS

  3. This whole thing is a bunch of BS….The worlds largest network and they cant even be hones with us! I think im cancelling my 16yr bussiness with vz and going someplace else.

  4. I’m sick of Verizon. They can never be straight up with their customers. I have been with them for 10 years and might be going to Sprint for the EVO 2.

  5. So Verizon is trying to tell us that the Thunderbolt, which was announced way before the Ipad 2 or Iphone were coming to Verizon, is being pushed back just because Verizon and Apple are now partners. What happened to the customer comes first? Especially the loyal ones who’ve stuck by Verizons side all these years.

  6. So Verizon is trying to tell us that the Thunderbolt, which was announced way before the Ipad 2 or Iphone were coming to Verizon, is being pushed back just because Verizon and Apple are now partners. What happened to the customer comes first? Especially the loyal ones who’ve stuck by Verizons side all these years.

  7. I hope all of you cancel….im tired of dealing with the most annoying customers on the face of the earth….have fun elsewhere

    • AHhahaaha! Touche! Well, my dear Verizon employee, stop feeding us shit and we wont be so annoying. Ok, ok, sure, maybe you are only telling us what the big boys above are spewing to you, so it’s not really your fault. However, you have to understand why we are pissed.

    • AHhahaaha! Touche! Well, my dear Verizon employee, stop feeding us shit and we wont be so annoying. Ok, ok, sure, maybe you are only telling us what the big boys above are spewing to you, so it’s not really your fault. However, you have to understand why we are pissed.

    • to bad they dont know anymore than we do. and remember when iphone was front page with the verizon deal? yes, verizon asociates found out the very same day.

    • to bad they dont know anymore than we do. and remember when iphone was front page with the verizon deal? yes, verizon asociates found out the very same day.

    • Talk about terrible customer service. Lol. I never find it annoying when customers ask about the tb. Learn how to do your job mr f@ckyou. Besides, if they all cancel, you’re stuck without a job. Talk about being irrational.

  8. I had a verizon rep tell me on sunday that they reason for the delay is because they wasn’t happy with the talk time on the battery and wanted a better one!! Whatever, just another story to add to the huge pile!!!

  9. Some of the store reps are reporting from what they see on the BGR Droid-Life and othe android blog sites. Plus Verizon never announced a date but did say mid March at CES so u have next week is mid March and no other reason for a delay besides another Apple product being mysteriously annouced so take next more likely then not maybe 9/10 chance the thunderbolt will be released.

  10. “Verizon had a problem with the switch between 3G and 4G LTE. This representative for Verizon said that the group was not satisfied with data switching between the two connection speeds, and that the transfer between the two connections was not as “seamless” as they truly desired.” So 2 ways this can go….they release it early, it doesnt work right and you complain…..OR they wait to release it when it works as desired and you wait and complain anyways and then say your just going to wait for the next one anyways…

  11. I am going to just wait. How many of you are adults? i don’t know about you but I grew up with less than other people and now I am blessed to be able to enjoy the types of things I long for but I know patience and I am just going to sit here with my Og Droid til it comes out. My older brother wants this droid 1 from me and he’s even excited about it. I understand the Verizon employees frustration, I have worked sales before. Just be patient people, there are people in third world countries that eat garbage and have been patiently waiting for a fresh hot plate and they have not had it for years and years. Stop being brats and have some maturity. I say this with respect for all persons including myself. I felt kinda disappointed myself but just relax, enjoy your families and friends and the rest of your lives.

    • It’s going to be hard to enjoy my friends and families if I am not able to communicate with them in wicked fast 4G technology, with a dual camera system.. Just kidding.

  17. But…lol…I do believe that they can give us more info than they have. It’s only right. Especially since we are paying customers but hey what can you do? I just hope I can handle the tier pricing for data. I need a good feature phone like this and its size and functionality would be good for my hands being so big and so that I don’t need to have a big laptop on my desk when I finish courses in college. Also I can face talk with family that own smartphones with front facing cameras. I still own a 1gb 1st gen ipod that i am giving to my brother. I have a lot of music which will go great with the space available on th sd card. Htc ‘s thing is “You.” It will fit my life nicely. Plus it’s fun! An added enjoyment to life.

  18. Verizon is being well…Verizon. Cryptic, controlling, slow, familiar. There has obviously been a delay, but if pre-ordering hadn’t been started so early at Best Buy…would people be as mad? Verizon thinks long-term, the “network” over the “device”. The 4G experience must be as good as promised for the overall success of the brand going forward…if that means delaying a device a month or two no big deal. Verizon waited how long for an iphone? Network vs. cool device…in V world, the network which they own and sell always wins. I bet you next time big V keeps a closer hold on BBuy though.

  19. With cellphone tech becoming obsolete as rapidly as it does these days, holding back on releasing a phone that was announced in January can’t be a good idea. If Verizon holds off any longer, no one will buy such an outdated device.

  20. i spoke with a verizon rep today and we are down in arizona, he said he found out today that they are releasing the TB on friday… and i asked him if he was sure since verizon releases stuff on thursdays and he said that friday was the day since htc is putting pressure on verizon… but we will see…. im not getting any hopes up at all.

  21. I am sooo annoyed. So so SO annoyed. Fine, I get it, it’s not ready.. but make sure your sales associates aren’t saying “oh, it’ll definitely be here in February,” “Yes, February 14th is the release date.” “Well it was going to be February 14th, but they don’t want it to compete with the iPhone so it’s going to be February 24.” “Oh, see the problem with the February 24th release date was that it was within the two week return period for the iPhone, so they don’t want to get stuck with a bunch of returned iPhones.” “So yeah, it’ll be out most likely on the 28th.. I mean, we already have the accessories and stuff, so thats a good sign.” Yes, those were exact quotes if you are wondering. I have heard this bull from so many different stores, in so many different states (ok, three states) but still! I just wish they wouldn’t say anything until they knew for sure. If this March 10th rumor isn’t true I will just cry.

  22. I am sooo annoyed. So so SO annoyed. Fine, I get it, it’s not ready.. but make sure your sales associates aren’t saying “oh, it’ll definitely be here in February,” “Yes, February 14th is the release date.” “Well it was going to be February 14th, but they don’t want it to compete with the iPhone so it’s going to be February 24.” “Oh, see the problem with the February 24th release date was that it was within the two week return period for the iPhone, so they don’t want to get stuck with a bunch of returned iPhones.” “So yeah, it’ll be out most likely on the 28th.. I mean, we already have the accessories and stuff, so thats a good sign.” Yes, those were exact quotes if you are wondering. I have heard this bull from so many different stores, in so many different states (ok, three states) but still! I just wish they wouldn’t say anything until they knew for sure. If this March 10th rumor isn’t true I will just cry.

  23. I am sooo annoyed. So so SO annoyed. Fine, I get it, it’s not ready.. but make sure your sales associates aren’t saying “oh, it’ll definitely be here in February,” “Yes, February 14th is the release date.” “Well it was going to be February 14th, but they don’t want it to compete with the iPhone so it’s going to be February 24.” “Oh, see the problem with the February 24th release date was that it was within the two week return period for the iPhone, so they don’t want to get stuck with a bunch of returned iPhones.” “So yeah, it’ll be out most likely on the 28th.. I mean, we already have the accessories and stuff, so thats a good sign.” Yes, those were exact quotes if you are wondering. I have heard this bull from so many different stores, in so many different states (ok, three states) but still! I just wish they wouldn’t say anything until they knew for sure. If this March 10th rumor isn’t true I will just cry.

  24. well
    i talked to a verizon associate. he said no way this week. and that verizon announces a week adavance for the phone. so he said expect two weeks earliest. EARLIEST PEOPLE.

    also
    no need to be salty, this is the first phone that is running on a differnt based network. verizon is making sure that the phone is ready for the customer, and that the service wont make the customer return yelling and ranting about all the little phone flaws. cough cough at&t and the iphone.

    anyway. when this phone comes out it will be sweet. it will also be ahead of the iphone 5
    i phone 6 plans to be on a 4g network.

    either way. definitely plan on seeing this phones in stores in three weeks. its only a matter of time.

  26. HAHAHAHAHA! Really!? This is the most unreliable piece of info I’ve ever read. A Verizon Rep knows just as much as we do. You think they let them in on all the secrets? yeaaaaaaaaaaaah right! I speak directly with a Verizon Rep everyday and she’s told me “We don’t know anything. Verizon hasn’t told us anything.” Which is true. Everything else is just speculation… come on now everyone… let’s say it together… SPECULATION! So, before any of you go and start jumping on the Atrix or iPhone wagon, just know that 99.9% of the “news” we read online is speculation. Ugh… I’m obviously frustrated with all the crap updates.

    • At least the retail stores have begun to admit they don’t know the release date. I wouldn’t be so pissed if they just said that in the beginning! I am starting to get desperate, I have phone that wont hold a charge for more than 20 minutes, and may just buy an iPhone. I just held out for so long because of the imminent 4G promises.

      • i work at a retail store. this is what i’ve been saying since the first delay. I won’t say anything till i see it on big reds website, or someone from corp tells me. you’re better off getting a droid 2 global, droid x, or droid incredible… ugh… i just really dislike the idea of being sucked into and held hostage in Apple’s world.

      • Yeah.. I know. Apple can be domineering, and all three of my computers are Macs, so I feel like I’m allowed to say that, haha. I am afraid that something is very wrong with either 4G or the TB. The fact that they are being so evasive really worries me, and that everyone seemed to think it was coming out in February and now it will be released “very shortly,” or whatever the spokesperson said. If the supposed release dates were only rumors online I wouldn’t be wondering what is wrong, but the fact that Verizon even thought the date would be February makes me concerned.

      • Think maybe the phone cause LTE has been out awhile. people have been using the USB hotspot connects for their computers for about a year now and have never heard or read anything bad about it.

      • i work at a retail store. this is what i’ve been saying since the first delay. I won’t say anything till i see it on big reds website, or someone from corp tells me. you’re better off getting a droid 2 global, droid x, or droid incredible… ugh… i just really dislike the idea of being sucked into and held hostage in Apple’s world.

    • At least the retail stores have begun to admit they don’t know the release date. I wouldn’t be so pissed if they just said that in the beginning! I am starting to get desperate, I have phone that wont hold a charge for more than 20 minutes, and may just buy an iPhone. I just held out for so long because of the imminent 4G promises.

  27. I don’t believe any of the garbage being posted by any site anymore. Pure speculation, rumors, BS, etc..etc…

  28. DDoes anyone have toilet paper? I need to wipe after all this crap.. thunderblunderbolt.. it better be cheaper and with a 100 buck rebate! 250 minus 100 rebate.. can’t complain then.

    • I’m not so much worried about the network as I am all those Thunderbolts sitting in boxes somewhere. When they finally get a properly working Thunderbolt, how are they going to update all those devices, and even worse, how long will it take to do that??? This could be a LONG wait…longer than we ever thought I’m afraid.

  30. LETS JUST WAIT A DAY AFTER IT IS FINALLY COMES OUT. SO THAT THEY DONT MAKE SALES, AND THEY ARE REMINDED WHO IS PUTTING THE MONEY IN THERE POCKETS.

  31. LETS JUST WAIT A DAY AFTER IT IS FINALLY COMES OUT. SO THAT THEY DONT MAKE SALES, AND THEY ARE REMINDED WHO IS PUTTING THE MONEY IN THERE POCKETS.

  32. This is what happens when you name a phone after something that doesn’t exist. There is thunder, and there are lightning bolts…but I’ve never in my life ever heard of a thunderbolt.

    I myself am not angry, but the hard reality is that at this point, I’m ready to see what else is coming down the pike. This phone already feels old before it ever gets released. Sure it will be LTE capable, but it will be the first and so it will be buggy. I’m ready to just go ahead and wait for a dual core HTC LTE device. I was ready to impulse buy the hell out if this device but the impulse has passed and reality has set in. It’s not the end all be all phone. Hell, Sense 3.0 will be out before this thing.

  33. We are fucking AMERICANS! It isn’t about us being immature or impatient. I’m sick of people making it out to be that way. Some of us have BEEN patiently waiting…for months. Constantly having this phone dangled in our faces and having it yanked away. It’s bullshit. And its consumer bullying (it wouldn’t be if Verizon would give info as to why the phone really isn’t released yet). And yes, the longer it is held, the more likely it is to become obsolete faster. So holding off too long, would indeed be a bad strategy…but maybe not for the people making the profits ; )

  36. I contacted HTC this was their response.

    Unfortunately, at this time, Verizon has not confirmed any launch dates for the Thunderbolt. If Verizon feels that they are not ready to release the Thunderbolt, HTC is not at liberty to overturn that decision. Verizon wants to make sure that they have taken every precaution to ensure that the launch of this powerful device goes over as smoothly as possible.
    However, once we know more about the release date, we’ll definately announce it through Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/htc) and Twitter http://www.twitter.com/htc), and of course HTC.com. Verizon also has a mailing list for news about the Thunderbolt; http://phones.verizonwireless.com/htc/thunderbolt/

  37. I had a phone rep at Costco state that Best Buy would have 30 day exclusive sales on the Thunderbird before it was sold anywhere else.

  38. I had a phone rep at Costco state that Best Buy would have 30 day exclusive sales on the Thunderbird before it was sold anywhere else.

  39. I think it is being delayed, so that Verizon won’t have to “grandfather” thousands of HTC Thunderbolt owners into their upcoming tiered 4G service plan.

  40. Verizon Wireless has NEVER placed a release date on their web site or any other website. All the dates you have seen have been on BLOGS. You know the old saying, ” If you throw enough “crap” on the wall, maybe some of it will stick” , the bloggers are doing just that. According to Verizon Wireless released reports, the release date was in the first “half” of the year. Did not say when or what month. Just sayin’

    • But Verizon DID say that we’d be seeing the Thunderbolt “a lot sooner than expected” and then about a month after they said that, we started seeing pre-orders at Best Buy, weekly ads, and commercial advertisements from BOTH Verizon and HTC. Then verizon randomly starts back-pedaling by pulling ads, and trying to act as if they haven’t f****d up by saying they never released a solid date. Well they may not have publicly, but they sure as hell had one…and missed it. And still, weeks later, after ads and countless “coming soons”, still no Thunderbolt? Hmm…sounds like delay to me.

  41. Verizon Wireless has NEVER placed a release date on their web site or any other website. All the dates you have seen have been on BLOGS. You know the old saying, ” If you throw enough “crap” on the wall, maybe some of it will stick” , the bloggers are doing just that. According to Verizon Wireless released reports, the release date was in the first “half” of the year. Did not say when or what month. Just sayin’

  42. Have they fixed the memory .So you don’t need advanced killer everytime you use it?
    Have they staightened out the email so you don’t need k 9 mail?

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