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Verizon Galaxy Nexus Suffering from HTC ThunderBolt Syndrome

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Today marks yet another day in the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus Release Date circus with November 21st again being thrown around as a possible release date for the Android 4.0-powered device.

That date though isn’t just a rumor. No, in fact, it was confirmed by Google who says that the phone will be launching “pretty much everywhere” on that day.

Way to clear it all up for us Google.

Anyway, the 21st isn’t the only date that we’ve heard about for the Galaxy Nexus’ launch on Big Red. We also heard November 3rd. We heard November 10th. We have heard somewhere around Black Friday. And we’ve also heard December is a possibility because of bugs that Verizon has apparently found in the testing process.

HTC ThunderBolt

Translation: this is getting ridiculous and very reminiscent of the debacle that happened with the HTC ThunderBolt before it launched in March earlier this year.

If you recall, the ThunderBolt also had about 50 rumored release dates before it launched which led to the same frustration, same annoyance, same disappointment, same everything as this Galaxy Nexus launch.

I like to call it HTC ThunderBolt Syndrome.

And it’s very clear that the Galaxy Nexus has it.

Luckily, I’ve found a cure for Samsung, for Verizon, and for every single manufacturer or carrier out there that chooses to announce phones without clarity.

It’s called communication.

Galaxy NexusVerizon’s only communication regarding the launch of the Galaxy Nexus has been that it’s coming “later this year.” It was just as vague with the launch of the ThunderBolt and it got worse when Verizon  pretended that pre-orders for the T-Bolt at Best Buy, which had started in February, didn’t exist.

That silence was unacceptable then, and it’s even more unacceptable with a phone of the Galaxy Nexus’ caliber.

This is a phone that is not only supposed to take on the iPhone 4S, which has sold millions upon millions of devices. This is a phone that is supposed to deal with two heavy hitters on Big Red already in the Droid RAZR and the HTC Rezound.

This is a phone that many believe has the potential to be the best Android phone yet. Myself included.

Verizon might be trying to build a buzz here (the novelty of this game wore off a long time ago for me) but really what it’s doing is shooting itself in the foot. On a business level and on a consumer level.

I get that there are all sorts of factors here. Other phone launches, bugs, etc. I get it. But what I don’t get is the fact that these carriers think its totally acceptable to treat their loyal Android customers like this.

It’s not.

Not when they continually bungle software updates. Not when prices for flagship smartphones are $300 on a contract. Not when the device will cost thousands of dollars over the course of those two years.

I do realize that the HTC ThunderBolt and the Galaxy Nexus are unique situations. One was the first 4G LTE smartphone. One is the first smartphone with Android 4.0. So it’s easy to see why it might be having issues that are delaying the phone’s release.

But what I don’t understand is, why not just come right out and say this stuff? Why not offer folks a little transparency? I’m not saying for every single phone but for phones like these, where people are chomping at the bit, why not just go above and beyond the norm for once and let people in on the process.

“December is looking good for launch, folks.”

“Yes, we have a few bugs to iron out and then we should be good to go.”

“I can confirm that the Galaxy Nexus will not be out on November 21st for Verizon customers. Sorry for the delay. We’re working as hard as possible to ensure a seamless experience for our customers.”

“We’ll try not to announce a phone two months before its release date. We should of learned our lesson with the ThunderBolt launch and we’re sorry.

Something.

Anything.

I think these companies would be surprised to see how far a little transparency would go.

So, am I being unreasonable?

Or does this sound about right?

I’d love to hear from you.

29 Comments

29 Comments

  1. Adam Truelove

    11/18/2011 at 1:28 pm

    It’s “champing at the bit”.

    • Anonymous

      11/18/2011 at 1:34 pm

      Ha, thanks Dude with the Great Name. Fixed.

      • Adam Truelove

        11/18/2011 at 1:46 pm

        No prob.

      • Anonymous

        11/19/2011 at 2:31 pm

        Hmm, I always thought it was “chomping at the bit”…

        Anyway, I fully agree that all Verizon has to do is let us know what is going on instead of letting us continue torturing ourselves over possible dates. And for a carrier that was at one point going to have some sort of exclusivity it’s now looking like they have a strong hold on being exclusively LAST.

        • Ryan

          11/20/2011 at 3:06 pm

          Agreed on both counts. “Chomping” was correct, and Verizon really needs to learn to communicate more directly with customers about these issues!

    • Spam_blocker

      11/20/2011 at 11:59 am

      very good article with points that i agree with 100%.

      but it is ‘chomping’ at the bit in the united states and ‘champing’ in the u.k., means the same thing.

  2. Dave

    11/18/2011 at 1:30 pm

    I completely agree. Transparency would subvert any of the millions of rumors floating around which seem to frustrate loyal fans more than create any positive buzz. 

  3. Alex

    11/18/2011 at 1:30 pm

    Good article, I totally agree. Part of the problem is our tendency as fanboys to slavishly check for new pieces of gossip and codifying every rumor as hard fact. We’re sitting here getting in a tizzy over conflicting leaked release dates of questionable authenticity and wondering why Verizon/Google isn’t giving us the phone yet. While this strikes me as more than a little ridiculous, it’s also because of the complete lack of information coming from Verizon/Google.

  4. Alien55

    11/18/2011 at 1:48 pm

    Good article, I do like what u had to say, I have been in the android market since the launch of the oringal Moto Droid, I have had lots of Moto’s and up until sept, and last month I figured that I would be makeing a new phone purchace andit would of course be another Moto phone, (Bionic) then when it came out and it was supposed to be the bee’s knees as far as 4G phones go. Ther the rumors started bout the bring back of the Razr and there again much dissappiontment. So I have set my sights on this and still keep hearing dates and no total word from Verizion as to when…
    Very Frustrated Verizion customer…

  5. Even Angrier Customer

    11/18/2011 at 1:52 pm

    More bugs?!  Come on!  The phone has already been released in the UK with no problems or delays.  WTF?!  Verizon needs to get their act together and quit treating their loyal customers like crap.  Everyone knows Verizon is in bed with Motorola ಠ_ಠ  Until some other mobile phone company challenges Verizon we’ll continue to be taken advantage of.

    • Marc McCalmon

      11/18/2011 at 2:12 pm

      I couldn’t have said this better myself.

  6. mike

    11/18/2011 at 1:54 pm

    Granted, we do sit there and look for release date rumors, verizon/samsung have to know that people are doing this, in fact, it may be what they are going for.  I think that providing some information about a release date or at least what wont be a release date would be easy to do and would really go a long way with those of us who check google every 2 hours to see if there is news about a release.

  7. Joshwendling1144

    11/18/2011 at 2:03 pm

    They handled the Bionic announcement so well too. Earning themselves a terrible track record with release dates.

  8. ZeeDee

    11/18/2011 at 2:07 pm

    EXACTLY MY THOUGHTS!!!! It wouldn’t hurt…actually it would do them a lot of good to tell us what’s the hold-up. Maybe if a few thousand people call VZW to ask them about the Nexus and when we can start pre-ordering, they’ll feel our frustration.

  9. Kevin

    11/18/2011 at 2:14 pm

    I half-agree completely. I would love to know more, and I think the consumers waiting anxiously to get this phone would greatly appreciate it.

    BUT, (and this is a big one) die-hard consumers aren’t Verizon’s stakeholder. We’re all going to buy this phone regardless of any animosity we have towards their non-disclosure because we know this phone is going to be awesome.

    The real stakeholder is THE STOCK PRICE. What company wants to announce several glitches, delays in supply, any sort of shortcomings with their latest iPhone killer? Not one that’s looking to make money… They would rather have the small minority upset with their silence than bring light to any problems in their implementation. Let us think that maybe it’s all part of their great ingenious plan.

  10. Andrew

    11/18/2011 at 2:24 pm

    “Should of” learned their lesson? Really? Should HAVE.

  11. Joseph Sheehy

    11/18/2011 at 2:37 pm

    Wait, so basically you are bitching because unofficial rumored US launch dates have been floating around for a phone with no official US release date (as of yet)? Color me confused, but since Verizon hasn’t announced any official US launch date, the company hasn’t done anything to jerk its customers around in this regard. No?

    It isn’t Verizon, Samsung, or Google’s fault that you bought into unconfirmed media hype.

    • Blanca Perez

      12/09/2011 at 11:56 pm

      Then VZW corporate should tell their store managers and district managers to STFU about release dates. They have been the source of much false info.

  12. Egeferentino9

    11/18/2011 at 3:12 pm

    My opinion in all of this is Iam not surprised bugs or no bugs. Verizon could very well bel trying to negotiate a price maybe talk Google into a few Verizon apps who knows if the the Nexus comes with only 2 preinstalled Verizon apps no big deal but from a business aspect Verizon is going about it all wrong in leaving their loyal customers in the dark unacceptable Verizon. But Iam still going to buy the nexus.

  13. Ecuaboi

    11/18/2011 at 8:08 pm

    You are still going to buy the phone so they really don’t care what u guys have to say. It’s the truth. They know people like u will buy the phone

  14. Jeremy Morrison

    11/18/2011 at 10:41 pm

    Couldn’t of said it better myself Adam. Verizon prides themselves on their customer service. Well at least I know they use to….. But this is the exact oposite of that. Letting us or anyone know even the slightest bit of information would be greatly appreciated. Wether it’s to tell us a date, a reason why it’s not ready, or even just saying sorry we’re not ready but hopefully it will be soon. Instead there’s nothing but silence. Even when I’ve called, chated, and emailed them about the Nexus….. NOTHING! Please Verizon if you’re reading this all I want is some information from you.

  15. Anonymous

    11/19/2011 at 7:53 am

    Nice read

  16. Anonymous

    11/19/2011 at 8:47 am

    my feeling is that since Verizon put so much marketing muscle behind the razr, they’re purposely delaying the galaxy nexus until they sell enough razrs to recoup their investment. and black Friday is their huge push to sell phones. honestly I’m shocked that google wanted this to be a serious iPhone contender and can’t even manage to release it properly on a single US carrier. it should have been on all three carriers a week after it was announced. now it’s just fading away into obscurity. it’s embarrassing how the US release of this phone was treated. it’s like no one cares.

  17. shorton

    11/19/2011 at 12:53 pm

    Makes you wish Google’s online store was still around.

  18. s0uth

    11/19/2011 at 3:00 pm

    so annoying…….. so so annoying….. 

  19. Anonymous

    11/19/2011 at 9:34 pm

    phlpn.es/7x9vmd

  20. Annoyed Verizon Customer

    12/09/2011 at 11:45 pm

    I can’t even count on 2 hands anymore the number of rumored dates that have passed with no Galaxy Nexus release.  Rumored release dates would be a total non-issue if, as the author suggests, Verizon just came out and said something like, “We are shooting for a mid-December release, but things could change.”  Instead, we get “Sorry, but there is no Galaxy Nexus release information yet.  Please sign up for our spam e-mail list and we will be sure to send you everything except information on the Galaxy Nexus.”

    The author is absolutely correct.  Verizon should have learned a lesson from the botched Thunderbolt release.  I also agree that Verizon’s attempt to “build a buzz” has been old for about 3 weeks now.

    Verizon, you have (hands down) the best 4G network and in my experience the best 3G network.  Now if only your business ethics and your ability/willingness to communicate to your loyal customers was on par with your network, I would be 100% satisfied.

    • Blanca Perez

      12/09/2011 at 11:53 pm

      We only stay with Verizon not because it’s a good company to do business with but because it the least awful. All the providers as scum who could care less what their customers think of them. I even sent an email to Danial Mead, the VZW CEO and got back gibberish about not releasing a phone until they think it’s ready, whatever that means.

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