Isaiah's Tech

Verizon has finally released what a lot of people have been waiting for. They now have the HTC Thunderbolt with LTE (4G) connectivity available on their network for $249.99 on a 2-year contract. Yeah, it's not cheap but it's one of the best smartphones around especially with on a slightly faster LTE (4G) network. If you're willing to pick one up, then check it out on Verizon.

Update: Android Guys has pointed out that it's now available on Amazon for $179.99 on a 2-year contract which is a bit better than what Verizon is offering it for.

[BGR]

Verizon has finally announced the availability of the HTC Thunderbolt. The smartphone will officially be launching on March 17th (2 days away) for $249.99 on a 2-year contract. Of course, this smartphone has LTE (4G) connectivity and it'll cost you $29.99 monthly for unlimited data use. Furthermore, if you pick one up before May 15th, hotspot capabilities will be free. What a deal!


Update: AndroidSPIN has just mentioned that Wirefly is now taking pre-orders for this smartphone. And it's just $199.99!

[BGR]

The leak above states two pretty important dates regarding future Verizon handsets. The first is that the Android powered HTC Thunderbolt could launch on March 17th and that the WP7 based HTC Trophy could be available a week later, on March 24th. Of course, this could be totally wrong at this point. Rumours about the Thunderbolt launching have been untrue so far so we're really just waiting for the official word. We also heard a few weeks ago that the HTC Trophy would be delayed to support Global 3G. Only Verizon knows the real dates.

Anytime there's word on Verizon's HTC Thunderbolt being released you can chalk it up as a rumour. BGR's sources have mentioned that said smartphone will be launching on March 21st. There's no way to confirm this right now and if you've been waiting this long then you might as well wait another couple of days. Come on Verizon, announce the release date already!

We still don't know when Verizon will be launching the HTC Thunderbolt because it's rumoured to be delayed because of battery issues. That aside, the company's own website lists the phone for $699 contract-free. This is cheaper than the 32GB iPhone 4 on the carrier, which is $749.99, and you're definitely getting a lot more with your money. The 2-year contract price is looking like it'll be more than $199 though - possibly $249 or $299. If you want to check it out then go here then go directly to Cart so that you'll be able to see just how much it is.

[Unwired View]

Okay, so the Verizon HTC Thunderbolt clearly didn't launch today but BGR is picking up some new information. The 4G-capable smartphone may actually be launching on either March 3 or 4th which is next week. Verizon did just release the Motorola XOOM earlier today so it's a good idea that they're giving their customers a few more days to rack up a few bills. Their tipster also mentions that unlimited 4G (LTE) data will cost $29.99 monthly which isn't bad at all. Actually, it's pretty awesome.

[BGR]

A 4G smartphone from HTC has just hit the FCC and it could be the Thunderbolt which is destined for Verizon in the US. It's dubbed the PG05100, which was spotted at the WiFi Alliance way back in December of last year. This smartphone packs 700MHz LTE along with CDMA / EVDO connectivity so it could be the Thunderbolt. The thing is that this smartphone has a confidentiality request until March 31st and BGR just heard that this is going to launch in two weeks. Someone has to be wrong but if BGR happens to be right then this smartphone could actually be something that will be teased at MWC. Anyways, check it out at the FCC.

[Engadget]

The picture above is coming from a Best Buy internal screenshot which AndroidPolice got their hands-on. It says that the HTC Thunderbolt which is headed to Verizon may cost as much as $749.99 contract-free; that's extremely expensive in case you didn't know. Of course, there's no way to confirm this but this could be pointing to more than $199.99 on a 2-year contract - maybe those $249.99 rumours will turn out to be true.

Update: According to BGR, their multiple sources have confirmed that the Thunderbolt will be available starting on February 24th.

[AndroidPolice]

If you've been waiting for the Android-based HTC Thunderbolt then the wait just might be over soon. Best Buy across the US is reportedly taking pre-orders for this smartphone right now so you might want to head over to one of their stores. The phone is nowhere to be found on their website so you're definitely going to have to get out of your chair if you want to get one.

Update: This morning BGR scooped the photo you see above and it says that Amazon could be delivering the handset by February 14th. Unfortunately, that date has been pulled so there's no telling when it'll actually be available.

Update: A number of websites have been reporting that this smartphone might actually be delayed by Verizon. That's unconfirmed right now so maybe we'll hear an official word from the carrier in the near future.

[Slash Gear]

Coming from Droid-Life is word that Best Buy leaked their release dates on their own Grand Rapids South Facebook page (it's been pulled since then). Release dates are as follows: HTC Thunderbolt on February 14th, Samsung Presto "Hotspot" on February 17th, and the more impressive "Honeycomb" powered Motorola XOOM on February 24th. Of course, we can't really confirm this, but this is coming from Best Buy's official page. Either way, two new Android devices are going to be hitting Verizon very soon!

[Engadget]

One of Phone Arena's tipsters have just told them some beefy information regarding Verizon's upcoming smartphone line-up. Later in Q1, they're expected to launch the HTC Thunderbolt, the DROID Incredible HD 2, and the Samsung (i520) 4G LTE smartphone. The Samsung smartphone is rumoured to feature a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED+ display, a 1GHz CPU, an 8MP rear-facing camera, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, and the Android OS.

In Q2 we can reportedly expect the Motorola DROID Bionic and the LG Revolution which we got a glimpse of at CES about a month ago. Apparently, RIM will have some devices ready for that quarter as well. We could be getting their BlackBerry "Monaco", which could be the Storm 3, and the "Monaco", which will be the company's Bold with a touchscreen display. Interesting stuff, we'll see if it pans out to be true.

[Phone Arena]

DROID-Life is hearing that the LTE-packing HTC Thunderbolt will be hitting Verizon on February 24th which is 14 days after the iPhone hits the carrier. The Thunderbolt is a much better device than the iPhone 4 on paper and will actually do data / voice over 3G simultaneously which the iPhone won't be able to do. Prices are pegged at $249.99 on a 2-year contract, $329.99 on a 1-year contract, and $599.99 contract-free. It's definitely worth the buy.

[DROID-Life]

Verizon announced a bunch of 4G devices at their press conference today and they include the Samsung SCH-i520 (which doesn't have a name yet), the LG Revolution, HTC Thunderbolt, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4G. First up is the SCH-i520 from Samsung which features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED+ display, an 8MP rear-facing camera with a flash, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, a 1GHz CPU, and Android 2.2 with the Touchwiz UI. Price and release date is still unknown for this one.

The second new smartphone the carrier revealed is the LG Revolution (above on the right). This one features a 4.3-inch display along with Android 2.2 with support for video chat, and you'll be able to use it as a mobile hotspot as well. Clearly, the complete spec sheet wasn't announced but we should know it before the event closes.

The third smartphone that has been made official today is the HTC Thunderbolt (above on the left). This features a 4.3-inch WVGA display, an 8MP camera with HD video recording, DLNA, WiFi / Bluetooth support, a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, video chat, and Android with the new Sense UI.

Update: Android Central has just mentioned the full spec sheet for the Thunderbolt. Other specs I missed include: a 32GB microSD card in the box, integrated Skype, a built-in keyboard, Dolby / SRS surround sound, and you'll be able to use it as a mobile hotspot.

Verizon has announced another device and this time it's a tablet. This one's the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4G which obviously has LTE connectivity for the carrier. It's basically a slightly improved Galaxy Tab. It features the same 7-inch display and also has a 1.2GHz Hummingbird CPU along with a 5MP rear-facing camera (up from 3.2MP on the original model). Price and release date for this one is also unknown which is a common thing at CES.

Samsung SCH-i520 Now Official: Engadget
HTC Thunderbolt and LG Revolution Now Official: Engadget
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4G Now Official: Engadget

Thanks to a full-page ad in the latest edition of the Rolling Stone we now know that the Verizon-bound HTC handset is confirmed to be the Thunderbolt. Of course, this will have 4G (LTE) capabilities and sports a design very similar to the Desire HD which is a great thing. This should be available soon.

That's not all though. The ad also shows off a 4G device for AT&T, the HTC Inspire 4G. This one is also clearly running Android along with the Sense UI. This is likely have just HSPA+ connectivity on-board so hopefully this hits Bell or Telus in Canada because they've had their HSPA+ network up and running for over a year now. Of course, this isn't true 4G, but T-Mobile USA is doing the same thing with their marketing. Specs are unknown for this one right now, but it could be similar to the Thunderbolt. You can look out for both devices to be announced in the very near future.

[Engadget]

It's been long rumoured to be Verizon's first 4G (LTE) smartphone and here it is. DroidLife has just brought us the first photos of the HTC Thunderbolt which will be getting official at CES 2011 this week. This smartphone looks extremely similar to the Desire HD which is a good thing. Of course, this one has 4G connectivity which will give you faster web browsing speeds. On the back of the device, there's a kickstand and it looks like there's a speaker underneath it which is interesting.

It's only a few days from getting official with a launch that should happen soon after the announcement. Check out the link below for a few more photos (11 more, in fact).

Update: According to Boy Genius, the sign-up page for the HTC Thunderbolt is now live. Check it out here.

[DroidLife]

Yesterday various media sources got a few glimpses of the Android-based HTC Incredible HD (aka the Mecha) and it looks like Gizmodo managed to scoop a picture of the actual handset running on Verizon's 4G (LTE) network. Of course, this isn't anything new but it should be the first time where we've actually seen the handset turned on. It's clearly running Android along with the Sense UI.

Update: According to Android and Me, this smartphone may actually hit Verizon as the DROID Thunderbolt. Honestly, it's a bit of a lengthy name. They should've just chose something like the DROID Bolt, but that's a bit similar to the BB Storm. Oh well.

[Gizmodo]