Verizon’s long-awaited first LTE smartphone in the HTC Thunderbolt 4G will finally be released this Thursday March 17th with pricing yet to be confirmed. The phone had previously been slated for a release closer to Valentine’s Day last month but was delayed due to issues with battery life on account of the LTE radio putting a bigger than expected strain on the phone’s battery.
The phone will feature Android 2.2, a 4.3 inch capacitive display, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, 8.0 megapixel main camera with LED flash, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, LTE radio, Wi-Fi with mobile hotspot support for 8 devices, Bluetooth and kickstand.
Third-party online retailer Wirefly has also confirmed that the phone will ship with simultaneous voice/data support, but will not ship with the  Skype Mobile with Video application first announced during Verizon’s keynote at CES in January. The retailer will begin presales for the smartphone beginning tonight at midnight PDT.
Update: Verizon has confirmed the Thursday launch date and pricing through Verizon sales channels is now set at $249.99 after new 2 year agreement and $29.99 4G data plan. Verizon has also confirmed that it will be offering its Mobile Hotspot access for free until May 15th, when the service will be offered at its standard $20 monthly rate with 2GB of data access per month. Third-party retailer Wirefly is currently offering a $50 discount on the post agreement pricing for the Thunderbolt 4G at $199.99.
Just confimred with Verizon REP by telephone and he has confirmed this infoprmation that Thunderbolt is to be released Thursday March 17th
tim eof my call was 3-14-11 @ 5:40 PM PST
[…] times HTC Thunderbolt Release Confirmed for Thursday | PhoneNews.com this as […]
[…] times HTC Thunderbolt Release Confirmed for Thursday | PhoneNews.com this thread as […]
First let me start out by saying I am not a internet know it all or someone that starts rumors but I just learned the following. I spoke to a Verizon Rep (I will not say if it was a store or corporate. Don’t want someone to get in trouble). They first told me they had no info to give me but then said I probably want to check back on the rumor date I heard (March 17). That was after they said I can’t give out release dates.
I was really interested until I found out there’s no HDMI outlet.