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HTC ThunderBolt Ice Cream Sandwich Situation is Unacceptable

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It has almost been a month since HTC coldly announced that the HTC ThunderBolt Ice Cream Sandwich update had been postponed to an undetermined date, a situation that is devolved into something that is unacceptable to owners who have held onto this phone.

The HTC ThunderBolt Ice Cream Sandwich update was originally supposed to roll out at the end of August, in Q3 as promised, but on the last day, HTC acknowledged that it would miss the deadline.

Over the past month, HTC has offered very little to ThunderBolt owners in terms of news about the Ice Cream Sandwich update, an update that currently has no release window. Instead of being candid or giving owners a Q4 roll out window or saying that the update is in peril, HTC has not been informative at all.

Read: HTC Offers Candid ThunderBolt Ice Cream Sandwich Update Reponse.

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The HTC ThunderBolt ICS update situation is a debacle.

That, to me, is completely unacceptable. That after a month of waiting for any news about the update’s whereabouts, there still isn’t any credible news about the update. What makes it worse is the fact that other companies like Asus are being completely transparent about these major updates. In fact, Asus posted on XDA-Developers forums today about Jelly Bean updates for two of its tablets.

It’s one thing to delay the update but it’s another to leave the situation completely up in the air after delaying it. “We’re working with Verizon on the updates” is not good enough. Lengthy emails dancing around the pertinent questions don’t work.

Just ask Motorola who completely changed up its Android update method with Jelly Bean. In it, the company promises to give owners of Android devices bought in 2011 $100 if their device doesn’t get upgraded to Jelly Bean. We’ve also seen it be extremely forthright with its customers, specifically, Droid Bionic owners who are also waiting for Ice Cream Sandwich. HTC should take a page from Motorola’s book.

All HTC and Verizon had to do was say that the update needed more testing to work out some of the bugs and the situation would have been fine. A delay because a company wants to work out the kinks is perfectly acceptable.

A delay that pushes an update into the unknown is not.

Anyone else frustrated?

90 Comments

90 Comments

  1. jimbo913

    09/26/2012 at 11:03 am

    Super frustrated. I hate this phone more that I can describe. Constant data drops. Why does it take me 30 minutes to watch a 5 minute video on YouTube? I spend more time on 1x, but all those around me are on 4G. I was hoping this update would take care of this, or at least improve it a bit. I decided long ago I would never buy HTC again, and this just strengthens my resolve. Crappy phone, crappy service, crappy PR. HTC doesn’t deserve to exist as far as I am concerned. I know some of you have a TB that works well. Good for you, but that hasn’t been the case with most of us.

    • Mac

      09/27/2012 at 3:44 pm

      Same here, ever since the Gingerbread OTA, my data is constantly dropping. I’m about ready to throw this piece of crap out the window…

      • jimbo913

        10/03/2012 at 12:41 pm

        My problems started around that time too. I loved this phone when I first got it. I had come from a HTC Eris (that I hated) but gave HTC one more shot. Everyday my phone reminds me more and more of that POS. It is a constant struggle to even get a connection. I go in and out of Airplane mode at least 6 times a day hoping to squeeze out at least 5 minutes of data connection. Words can not express my frustration. I want to introduce my Thunderbolt to my friend Mr. Hammer, but I am not up for an upgrade for a few months. Despite losing unlimited data, I can’t wait to get anything other than a HTC phone.

    • James Morgan

      10/05/2012 at 2:13 am

      Mine is still going strong. No data or phone drops and I get at least a day in a half battery.

    • Luis

      10/11/2012 at 10:58 pm

      I Agree!!!

    • WT Smith

      11/05/2012 at 6:09 am

      Thank goodness my contract is up in March. I’ve never experienced that ridiculous issues that others have had but battery life has been a constant struggle even with the extended battery. Something got pushed out around the time the ICS update was supposed to come and it’s been killing my battery ever since. It will be a long time before I buy another HTC phone. It’s not the same company it used to be.

  2. M1$t@ G

    09/26/2012 at 11:06 am

    This debacle has sealed the deal for me. I have been a huge HTC fan since my first smartphone (Windows Mobile) over 5 years ago. Between HTC’s inability to keep their customers informed about the ICS rollout, and their devices’ growing inferiority to the likes of Samsung and Asus, I’m sorry (for HTC) to say that when my contract expires in December, I’m getting an SIII, and I’m thoroughly looking forward to letting this thunderbolt get lost in a drawer somewhere. If this situation has had an upside it’s that it gave me the courage to void my warranty, root my phone, and install bamf’s leaked ICS ROM for the thunderbolt, which might I add, is one kick ass ROM. So long HTC, I wish you the best of luck.

    • david

      10/03/2012 at 5:16 pm

      thats funny i did the same thing lol

  3. not happy

    09/26/2012 at 11:13 am

    The situation with the thunderbolt is ridiculous. All we are looking for is a response. It seems that both Verizon and HTC are afraid to take the blame for the is update not being released. Little do they know itbis not a blame game but all we are looking for is something to go with. I feel that this will be the last HTC phone and Verizon phone that I ever buy.

    • not happy

      09/26/2012 at 11:17 am

      I forgot to mention the fact that an HTC sense update has not yet been released. The touch is all over the place. Andnnow when the sensenwill finally be updated along with the Os we are still here waiting even phonesnthatbwill not get the update like the HTC inspire has at least updated their sense

  4. uw rocks

    09/26/2012 at 11:14 am

    I was told last weekend when I called Verizon to take care of final details in getting my wife’s new iPhone up to speed and on a new share everything plan that the update had begun rolling out and was moving East to West. I should have it within a week. I’m in the middle of the country. But I find that unbelievable since no one is posting any updates about it. Shouldn’t the people in New York or Charlotte have it already if it’s moving east to West? I’m tired of being lied to about this. I will be jumping to iPhone 5 or maybe 6 once I’m due for an upgrade. I put the blame on both HTC and Verizon for this HTC should have made this a bigger priority and Verizon is likely slowing it down as well. I have better options for phone manufacturers, not sure I do for service provider or I’d switch that too.

    • not happy

      09/26/2012 at 11:24 am

      I live in nj and have seen no sign of the update rolling out…, this is a complete lie. I agree both HTC and Verizon are both to blame

      • Nick

        09/26/2012 at 11:33 am

        HTC lied to me more than once about the ICS update for the ThunderBolt rolling out. I have to assume the representatives I spoke to were just completely mistaken because I can’t believe anyone who values their job would have the nerve to knowingly lie like that.

        Even though there’s nothing really wrong with mine (aside from an outdated form factor), this whole debacle is just screaming for me to walk away from HTC. But of course, I’m forcing myself to give this Droid Incredible X a day in court before I pull the trigger on the GS3…

    • uw rocks

      09/26/2012 at 12:54 pm

      I should have added, no bloatware on my wife’s iPhone 5. One wonders given HTC’s initial announcement of their failure to get it out by the end of August and hint that the blame was on Verizon if the delay is related to Verizon getting the bloatware loaded and working right. I’m so disappointed in this thing and won’t be surprised if jbo796 below is right, we’re not getting it. If that’s the case, they’ve created a pr nightmare particularly for HTC by continuing to insinuate it’s still coming. It seems HTC has shifted their focus to Windows 8 and couldn’t care less about customers running an older Android device even if it once was their flagship that broke ground on Verizon 4g.

    • Risin

      10/07/2012 at 9:01 pm

      Here in Florida (east coast) still haven’t had ics updated to my tbolt, doesn’t look like we’ll be getting it anytime soon :(

  5. HTCucks

    09/26/2012 at 11:56 am

    I am on the east coast. I have received no such update.

  6. jbo796

    09/26/2012 at 12:42 pm

    The very irritable customer rep told me at the end of last week when I called, that we are NOT getting the update….

  7. Mad and Upset

    09/26/2012 at 1:22 pm

    Agreed. The thunderbolt is slowly driving me insane. Between the slow speed, random restarts, screen freezes, and even as a type this skipping. You would jave thought that the first 4G cell for HTC sould offer these customers a little preference. After about a year of using the phone I am ready to jump ship and throw it on the street.

  8. Doug

    09/26/2012 at 1:25 pm

    Wow, you guys are sounding really whiney. Get over it. Spend the 2 hours that it takes to learn how to root your TBolt and use the AOSP ICS that was released a month ago (because it is way better than the update that HTC is going to provide anyways).

    Second of all: “A delay because a company wants to work out the kinks is perfectly acceptable.” What the heck do you think the delay is about? Jesus Christ, they’ve said that they’re working on it. “A delay that pushes an update into the unknown is not.” Hmmm. Isn’t that exactly what every delay to work out the kinks is? Pushing it off into an unknown future date because it is unknown when the kinks will be fixed. After all, if it was known how exactly to fix the kinks, the kinks would’t really be problems worth delaying the update for because they would have been predictable and avoided from the get go.

  9. Doug

    09/26/2012 at 1:28 pm

    Also, if I was a representative of HTC and Verizon, I’d be pretty irritated with you clowns whining about a software update (free one, mind you) being delayed.

    • Mithrandir48

      09/26/2012 at 2:21 pm

      Haha, do you have any clue what type of device this was? How long random reboots plagued this phone? This is a case of the manufacturer and cell phone provider pulling a bait and switch…the first software update didn’t occur until you were already locked into the phone contract. After the first software update or two the phone would randomly turn off multiple times a day (even while talking on the phone many times for me). This continued for 6 months or so…also, we were promised GB within a month or two of the release (since GB had been out for 6 months prior to the release of this phone). The actual GB update did not occur until at least 6 months after the phone was sold (bait and switch again). Also, the battery life is horrible from day one…we were promised a software fix…that never helped the battery life (on my 3rd battery and it lasts less than 3 hours on 3G even!). When you buy a phone you would expect at least one software upgrade to the next version of the OS, it’s implicit with every flagship phone purchase…since this phone came out 6 months after GB the next OS upgrade would be ICS (GB was supposed to be a within 2 month upgrade remember?). Now here we are 18 months into our contracts, with all these issues (still getting random 4G and 3G disconnects) we are being strung along about the single OS upgrade you can expect with the purchase of a flagship phone…sorry this is the straw that broke the camel’s back…I’m contact Verizon today and asking to get out of my contract…if that doesn’t work I’ll be writing up both Verizon and HTC with the BBB.

      • Mikekoz

        09/26/2012 at 5:38 pm

        Not bait and switch. That is when a retailer gets you into a store with an ad about a device they do not have (never had more than likely), then talks you into a higher priced item. Keep in mind also that creating software updates for Android devices is more complex than say, an iPhone, so updates may not always get released in a timely manner. My guess is Verizon is holding this up, but it is better they release a stable update, then one full of bugs which will no doubt, make matters worse.

      • apple roks ur droid

        10/10/2012 at 7:26 pm

        The BBB?? really? U know that vzw and HTC could give 2 $hits about ur cell phone not getting an upgrade. how bout u wait till ur contract is up, go to an apple store and purchase a real device.. guess what, the 4s got there update cause apple products are actually worth purchasing and they believe in true cust care.. android is done… Go IOS6 BOY…

        • weee apple maps are awesomeness

          10/12/2012 at 9:49 am

          And when the 4s was upgraded it no longer had a working map/navigation program… Awesome.. Yeah, android is done… not as long as Apple keeps putting out terrible products and has to issue apologies on their own website recommending you use someone else’s, much better product…

        • Jeff A (@Mithrandir48)

          12/12/2012 at 2:09 pm

          Haha, I did contact Verizon and I did get a new phone, no upgrade needed…let’s just say I will NEVER go back to HTC. I’ll just keep my unlimited 4G phone contract with the new Droid Razr Maxx as long as I can.

        • graywolfman

          12/12/2012 at 8:10 pm

          I contacted Verizon as well, got a different phone with ICS, no issues at all. Running great, no Data drops, 50% better signal reception as well. The Thunderbolt is dead, and Verizon just won’t admit it unless you complain to the point of a free phone. I think they are just waiting everyone out until they give up and buy a different phone. Then they’ll quietly cancel the update, and no one will be the wiser except the few that pay attention.

    • Mikekoz

      09/26/2012 at 5:30 pm

      How much you want to bet that all of the people complaining about the ICS upgrade, will start complaing about no Jellybean upgrade after they get ICS! I got ICS on two of my tablets, and while it is nice, it is not like angels came down and made my phone into a magical device, coated it with gold, and made my life a lot better!! ;p).

      • David

        10/01/2012 at 8:52 am

        lol — I have a thunderbolt and have relatively few issues… and your response is awesome… I agree, when (and IF) ICS comes to the thunderbolt I am sure the vast majority of those who complained about not getting it will switch to complaining about how ICS SUX and is TOO SLOW and how they either want their old GB back or how JB should be ready cause it would be so much better!!! LMAO!!!

  10. Opa

    09/26/2012 at 1:36 pm

    HTC=HIGH TECH CRAP.

  11. Mithrandir48

    09/26/2012 at 1:50 pm

    This is quite unacceptable…I can’t even maintain a 4G connection without it cutting in and out every few hours or so. My battery is now down to about 2-3 hours of life per charge…it crashes when I activate and deactivate my bluetooth radio. Besides the fact that my phone used to restart for about 6 months of the time I owned it and now I’m sitting here waiting for the ICS update (after waiting how long for GB?). This is a class action lawsuit if I’ve ever come across one…denial of service (4G and 3G cutting in and out), faulty hardware/software (random reboots and ridiculous battery life). We’re not even getting a single software update that is generally promised (GB should have been on the phone originally since it came out 6 months before the phone was released) when purchasing a flagship phone. If nothing else just release me from my contract Verizon…it’s to try a different provider.

  12. AJ

    09/26/2012 at 1:55 pm

    Done with HTC as well. If I didn’t have a family plan and so many phones on it, I’d be ditching Verizon as well. Razr Maxx HD here I come.

    Doug – You are a tool. It isn’t the fact that ICS is late, it is the fact that it’s late with no info – AFTER all the other issues with this phone. Gingerbread too forever to arrive…updates to serious bugs took forever to arrive…battery life is a joke and my gals died twice on her before she jumped ship to the Nexus (great move there as she is already sporting Jelly Bean and it rocks).

    I was patient for the first major bug fix, patient for gingerbread, patient for the second bug fix, bought another battery for the phone but the missed roll out of a year old update and zero communication. I am done. Never again another HTC.

    • Doug

      10/01/2012 at 6:22 am

      AJ- You are pretty rude, and believe me, you do sound whiney. First off, the article mentioned none of those things you did in response to me. Second, your grammar makes you look inept, so I forgive you for insulting me because obviously you are too stupid to understand what I was saying in the first place, or moreover, to understand how the logic of the person who wrote the article makes no sense.

      • Brett

        10/02/2012 at 5:32 am

        Doug, while i get the kind of person you are, you are the rude one. You call people inept, and make fun of their grammar. Come on, that’s such old elitist forum etiquette its sad. Get over yourself and pick up a new personality online.
        HTC as a company has screwed over their customers. ICS for the thunderbolt may suck when it comes out, and they may not know when their “fix” for “bugs” will work. But the reality is is this is not the first time they’ve fallen through on their promises, and not only do they not follow through, but then they go into hiding for months until the release is ready for whatever reason. I think what everyone wants is someone to stand up and say “Hey, we screwed up and we promise it to be out by…” or some kind of response other than “We are working on an update and will let you know when its out.” I luckily jumped ship almost a year ago from that phone, but its sad to see that people are still getting screwed over by HTC. They should not have promised if they couldn’t deliver. And Doug, i’m sure somewhere in your elitist brain you do realize that is bad business etiquette.

        • Doug Smith

          10/08/2012 at 8:08 pm

          Thanks for clearing that up Brett!!! I agree!

        • Doug

          10/11/2012 at 11:04 pm

          Excuse me for retaliating in what little fashion I had available to me against somebody who called me a tool. I called them rude and then made fun of their grammar. I must be elitist.

          “They should not have promised if they couldn’t deliver.” By your logic, nobody should ever give a release date of anything unless the product is already completed and has gone through quality testing… Unexpected things happen.

          “Hey, we screwed up and we promise it to be out by…” Wait, wait, wait… Didn’t you also say they shouldn’t make such promises? I mean, unless they are completely sure of the release date, somehow clairvoyantly knowing that there will be no more unexpected bugs?

          I mean, it seems people are arguing that it was bad for them to miss a release date… In order to avoid this complaint it makes sense that HTC wouldn’t give another release date for people to freak out about them missing if they aren’t sure how long it will take for them to fix. Yet people freak out about them refusing to give a date?

          You see why I think people are whining now?

  13. scott

    09/26/2012 at 2:08 pm

    isnt it obvious that Verizon doesnt want to launch something making your Tbolt more attractive when they are launching iPhone 5?

  14. Alan

    09/26/2012 at 2:25 pm

    ICS on the Thunderbolt is like putting lipstick on a pig. There is no excuse for all these problems.

  15. Mikekoz

    09/26/2012 at 5:25 pm

    Wow…yet another article about the missing Tbolt ICS upgrade. I bought mine back in July and have had no problems with it, probably because by the time I got it, all of the hardware glitches had been worked out. I am a light phone user, and it is running great on 2.3 Rooting it is an option, but I have yet to see a rom where everything is working on it. The video camera seems to be main problem with these roms, but they also remove all of the bloatware and make the phone faster. That is one of few things I like about the Apple devices, but I would rather use an Android device for many reasons, regardless of the OS version.

    • Nick

      09/26/2012 at 6:23 pm

      My situation is similar in that I too received the phone with many of the problems already fixed and GB already on it (Christmas 2011 gift). So, for people like us, yes, the experience with the phone has actually been fine for the most part and we cannot feel the same pain as those that bought it when new and had to suffer through all the issues. However, I am still really looking forward to this update because I want to be able to put more apps on the home screen and use the much better Chrome browser.

      We are not so much complaining about the update not coming out, rather we are all more than a little irked at how HTC is handling the whole situation. They promise an already year old OS for a certain date, miss it, then say nothing more on the subject for a month. Very, very bad way to show your customers you care about them.

  16. stuart

    09/27/2012 at 3:32 am

    The HTC Thunderbolt is a pig. I have only had mine since 07/12 and have replaced the SIM card after the first week and the cell itself the next week when that did not fix the data problems. The only “fix” Verizon had was to sell me insurance and extended warranty. Nice “fix” Verizon.

  17. DC14A10

    09/27/2012 at 11:13 am

    I have had the TB for almost two years now. Lived through the reboot issue, that was though going, but this phone works well now and has for over a year. Yah no ICS is a bummer, but the phone works well. In three months I will switch away from HTC because I value battery life more than they do. I just don’t see the reason for all the crying about ICS.

  18. Froyton

    09/27/2012 at 11:20 am

    I absolutely love my Thunderbolt running Thundershed. It runs so smooth and the battery life is excellent. The BAMF leak is cool, but programs were sluggish under it and it ate through my battery way too fast for me to want to keep it. I upgrade in December anyway so I’m not holding my breath for HTC to deliver. I’m looking forward to Jelly Bean on the SIII.

  19. Nick

    09/27/2012 at 11:33 am

    Just an FYI, investing in a $20 Rezound battery solved the battery issue for me. I get 24 hours on a single charge with nominal usage.

    • Mithrandir48

      09/27/2012 at 1:22 pm

      Yeah, I tried the Rezound battery…it worked great for a few months…it lasted 7 or 8 hours at one point but now the battery lasts maybe 3 hours on 3G (even worse than the original battery). I’m not really excited about spending more and more money on batteries when I already have 4 of them…I just have to rotate them through out the day or evening.

  20. Gayle

    09/27/2012 at 11:37 am

    I’m not mad, neither am I upset. But…
    You’ve got the quiet part down real good, the other part, brilliant, well not so much.
    Good bye HTC

  21. Jeff

    09/28/2012 at 7:36 am

    I must be one of he lucky ones. I have a Verison Thunderbolt as my work phone and have been pretty happy with it from day one. At least compared to my old phone, an LG Optimus on Sprint which must have been the worst phone ever because the Thunderbolt is far superior in every way.

  22. Don

    09/28/2012 at 10:25 am

    ICS runs great on the Thunderbolt. Root and use the BAMF ICS release that came out the end of August, I have had no issues at all for the past month.

  23. Brett Hallahan

    09/28/2012 at 10:55 am

    I am sick of my Thunderbolt. I have it rooted and customized like crazy just so I can stand it for another few months before my upgrade… but I don’t want to use my upgrade because I’ll lose my unlimited data. GAH! Cell phone companies (providers and manufacturers) are really getting on my nerves. About to go pre-paid and root the crap out of one of those.

  24. Michael

    09/28/2012 at 3:12 pm

    I’ve been patient long enough. Looks like HTC wants to be the new blackberry. Time for me to move on.

  25. brian

    09/29/2012 at 6:31 am

    In general I like HTC phones, but after thunderbolt experience I doubt my next phone will be made by HTC.

  26. Bb

    09/29/2012 at 10:08 am

    Buying the new iPhone. Sickof this android bs.

  27. Fire

    09/29/2012 at 5:58 pm

    My feeling is that as more phones go to ICS, Verizon is realizing that, we cannot uninstall, but we will be able to “turn off” those bloatware apps – especially those they try to get us to pay for. ICS makes it out of sight, out of mind. IMHO, Verizon has no real incentive to get ICS to us because of this. While I won’t be changing provider because of my company’s discount, This is my last HTC phone (four HTC phones in past 5+ yrs of having a cell phone) and am looking towards Samsung.

  28. ryan alcoser

    09/30/2012 at 8:07 pm

    Gearing up for a different phone is exactly what they want us to do no.thanks Im just waiting for the court process to begin,

  29. Disappointed

    10/01/2012 at 12:57 am

    If Verizon were holding it back to try and force you to upgrade, why wouldn’t they do that with all their phones? The original Droid went from 2.0 – 2.01 – 2.1 – 2.2 officially, it even has 2.3 and maybe even 4.0 unofficially. There is no reason that phone should have as new an OS as this one. That falls squarely on HTC.

    I have actually used my Droid over my Thunderbolt on trips because of its better battery life and more consistent data connection. That’s really sad.

  30. richiesgirl

    10/01/2012 at 9:11 am

    Will be changing phones when my upgrade is available later this year. Bought the Thunderbolt the week it was released and have been very disappointed in the battery life. The Verizon people told me to run my phone on 3G instead of 4G to save battery, but what’s the point of getting a 4G phone then? I bought the extended battery (and back of case) but can’t find any nice protective cases that fit it other than the belt or pocket ones, so it seems all the cases I bought before the new battery were obselete. Also the dropped data and auto shutdowns and reboots have become tiresome.

    I’m ready for the Galaxy SIII or maybe whatever newer phones are available by the time I upgrade. Buh Bye HTC!

    • Risin

      10/07/2012 at 9:28 pm

      I had constant data drops also, that is until I deleted the Facebook app, since then things have been fine. I’m ready for the update though, because I’d like mine to be faster, I’m looking foward to my upgrade as well since there are many new phones on the horizon, however after this htc will not be in my future.

  31. schmook

    10/01/2012 at 11:45 am

    Overall, I have been pretty happy with my Thunderbolt. However, the ICS update has made it clear that this is the first and last HTC phone I will own. Once my upgrade window opens, I plan to root it and install the Liquid Smooth ROM; until the phone dies and move to Motorola (now that Google owns them). HTC is unacceptable!!!

  32. angrythunderboltuser

    10/01/2012 at 11:48 am

    HTC Quietly Brilliant ! More like HTC Uselessly Quiet !

    “As far as I am aware [Redacted], you will be receiving the ICS update. However, HTC no longer announces dates for release of software due to the nature of the software development process.”

    As far as you are aware ? No wonder you don’t communicate with your customers. Your company can’t even give YOU a definite answer. You should be able to say:
    “You will be receiving an ICS update by ____ or we will Bribe you.”

    You don’t release dates of software updates because you are a pathetic company.

  33. im bending over

    10/01/2012 at 10:29 pm

    This is crap. I think Verizon is doing this foe a reason so we would buy a new phone. They want people to get off of the unlimited data plan so they can charge people a arm and a leg. Any one here have the plan they well try to get you off of the unlimited plan. latly my phone runs slow. Why u ask. Cause its verizon doing this. Just think people with the plans with no unlimited has no problems just the people who have unlimited data. welcome to corporate America .

  34. Greg Tech

    10/02/2012 at 6:54 am

    I’m extremely disappointed too. HTC has not been forthcoming with the information and hoping that we will quietly go away. I’m seriously thinking that we could create a Facebook page to show our displeasure and warn other potential customers that this is the type of appreciation they will get. HTC would probably take notice quick since the competition is getting stiff amongst the Android devices.

    • Douglas Smith

      10/08/2012 at 8:17 pm

      I totally agree!!!

  35. ButchSS

    10/02/2012 at 9:38 am

    Getting my S3 on Black Friday so screw ICS & HTC. Jumping right to J-B.

  36. David Taylor

    10/02/2012 at 11:00 am

    I myself will not purchase another HTC phone…Samsung seems to have the next hit with its Galaxy III waiting for the IV my 2 yrs will be up by then with Verizon

  37. FooBar

    10/02/2012 at 11:50 am

    F– Verizon, F– HTC and most of all F– Apple in its big smelly a–. Move to Sprint, get unlimited data and new Lumia 920. You can argue the Sprint’s service sucks but then again I can’t get a Verizon signal indoors.

  38. Don

    10/02/2012 at 2:11 pm

    I hope someone at HTC sees all of these comments! Probably wouldn’t help though.

    Add me to the long list of people who would never buy another HTC phone. I have the most recent GB version of BAMF, which makes my Tbolt “acceptable” but I would be miserable if I had to put up with the stock firmware. Way too slow and draining on the poor underpowered battery (and I even use a Rezound battery to get a little more juice).

    At this point, I would be pretty shocked if ICS ever was released. The phone is too underpowered for it to run smoothly/efficiently when Sense is stacked on top of it. Over the next six months, most current Thunderbolt owners will be due for an upgrade anyway — and we all know Verizon is eager to get us off the unlimited data plan.

  39. Yashirov

    10/03/2012 at 7:24 am

    How about this as a theory: Verizon delays the software release to make HTC Thunderbolt owners frustrated and decide to upgrade their phones, which gets them out of their unlimited data plans and onto metered data plans.

  40. Ean

    10/03/2012 at 9:52 am

    I download the ICS ROM leak and worked out the bugs myself. Now my phone runs smoothly and I dont think when the update comes out that I even want it. I love this phone. The size the feel the display. But honestly i dont think they are ever going to launch ICS update and Im content with that. If your not happy then go out and download the ROM and learn how to use it.

    • Thomas

      10/03/2012 at 2:38 pm

      Ean, how do i do that? i have downloaded the liquid smooth version and I cant fiqure out how to install it. I have looked online for instructions and have had no luck. if you can point me the right direction i would apprecitate it greatly. Thanks.

  41. Jim

    10/03/2012 at 11:15 am

    As a senior marketing executive in the high tech industry for over 35 years, I have certainly seen my share of vapor ware and broken promises from vendors. That said, the HTC TBolt customer experience – not product, but customer experience – is among the worst in my memory. That the product has had its flaws from the outset (e.g. kickstand placement and battery life) is not exactly newsworthy. However, when this is combined with a series of missed commitments and complete information blackouts, it is totally unacceptable – at least for a company wishing to retain customers. Doug, I agree with your sentiments that there is no reason for customers to become abusive – on line or on the phone – with service representatives of HTC. They are the unfortunate messengers of a colossal product management and marketing fiasco. However I disagree that anyone unhappy about the situation is merely “whining”. HTC made the commitments – 1st with GB, now with ICS. You don’t want to live up to committed dates, don’t make them in the first place. If you make an announcement and repeatedly fail to deliver, then your company deserves all of the negative customer feedback (not abuse of personnel) and customer attrition it has coming. For my part – and I have politely but firmly expressed this to HTC on customer service feedback forms and in emails to US execs – I have purchased my last HTC product. I have been overly patient and will not subject myself to such care-less customer service, response and communication in the future.

  42. JoeYinzer

    10/03/2012 at 3:54 pm

    I won’t leave Verizon. It’s by far the best carrier I’ve ever had but I will never again own an HTC phone.

  43. Chris

    10/03/2012 at 10:53 pm

    I will never own another HTC POS again. I do not blame Verizon for this problem, since my wife has a Motorola Droid RAZR and got her ICS update when she was promised by Motorola. I have been waiting (sometimes patiently, sometimes not so patiently) for the ICS update for my phone to no avail. (I live in Ohio.) The problem, as I see it, is strictly HTC overpromising and underdelivering. This is my second HTC phone, and my last.

  44. Keith

    10/04/2012 at 5:01 am

    I have two HTC Thunderbolts and I am really very sick of HTC and Verizon.
    After my contract is up next year with Verizon (11 years with them), I will get rid of the HTC and go back to the very basic phone with different provider. I can get online technically everywhere since wifi is free near me with a Google Nexus.

  45. Ian Church

    10/04/2012 at 8:59 am

    Galaxy IV will be my next phone!

  46. Mike Callahan

    10/04/2012 at 10:22 am

    I loved my Thunderbolt and i love my Rezound. Motorola is plain junk. Im going Samsung next time. I just hope people understand VERIZON is the one holding HTC up. Not the other way around. Im sure they are having issues with one or more of the memory and battery eating apps that VERIZON forces you to have on your phone. I might get the SIII when the price goes down. Reminds of iPhone though with different size phones you can buy. Not to mention a total rip off to get a 32 vs a 16. That will be my last contract with the big V though. Only reason im with them is im grandfathered in to totally unlimited 4G mobile data and unlimited 4G hot spot. Thats not an easy thing to find these days. ;-)

  47. Mithrandir48

    10/04/2012 at 12:54 pm

    Keep calling up Verizon to complain…eventually they will give you a new free phone without having to use an upgrade (meaning you can keep your unlimited plan still). They offered me a Razr Maxx or any other android phone since I had all sorts of issues with the HTC Thunderbolt in the last year and a half.

  48. garyw

    10/04/2012 at 7:54 pm

    I am frustrated. No more HTC for me. I’m expecting an iPhone 5 around October 21. Money talks, b.s.walks.

  49. wutang

    10/05/2012 at 7:05 am

    Textbook example of classic PR Fail. The educated consumer and past owner of a ThunderBolt who went through this will not ever purchase HTC products again.

  50. Buck

    10/05/2012 at 11:45 am

    Par for the course on the Tbolt. After quite a bit of research, I went with HTC (coming off of an iPhone 3G, which I hated). While considerably better and more reliable than my iPhone 3G, HTC has had so many screw-ups I probably wouldn’t choose them again on that, alone. Add in their general awful communication, throughout the whole process, and I’m probably switching to a Windows phone, taking a look at the iPhone 5, or possibly just going with another Android manufacturer.

    At this point, HTC, don’t bother wasting money trying to buy me out with a hundred bucks, like Motorola is. I won’t be going with HTC again, either way.

  51. Tc

    10/06/2012 at 11:45 am

    Can’t wait to upgrade to the RAZR Maxx HD. GOODBYE HTC.

  52. Dean

    10/07/2012 at 12:00 am

    Isn’t it funny that we have this amazing technology in the palm of our hands and we complain about little glitches and delayed updates. You bought the phone cause you liked it at some point. If you think its outdated then get a new phone and complain about that one later. I actually need the update for an app that won’t work on the current version but I’m not getting rid of this phone til my contract is up. I like the phone way more than my wifes iphone. Its not fair to compare it to the s3 that didn’t exist when you bought this one, technology changes too fast. My commodore 64 wont keep up. whaaa. We have become a bunch of fat spoiled babies.It makes me sick.

  53. Pearl

    10/07/2012 at 8:52 pm

    Fat spoiled babies, lol. That is so true!!

  54. nexus

    10/08/2012 at 10:53 am

    so gentlemen we continue to get taken up the tailpipe by HTC. I guess if we all get used to this being the new normal, then we just go about our day, getting screwed all the while, and not pay it any mind.

  55. chris

    10/08/2012 at 4:35 pm

    Just waiting for the razr maxx hd. So long HTC

  56. Mike

    10/09/2012 at 1:30 pm

    Second time screwed by HTC, will never buy another, switching to moto

  57. dm33

    10/09/2012 at 9:58 pm

    I bought the Thunderbolt when it first came out. I am EXTREMELY unhappy with it. HTC/Verizon/Google have NOT supported this phone. This is abandonware.

    The update in May/June has made LTE non-functional. Always connects then disconnects. 3G isn’t much better. Phone reboots every day or two. Takes 5 minutes + to reboot. Voice recognition doesn’t recognize the microphone half the time. Tons of other bugs and annoyances I’m trying to forget.

    I’ve never been so close to throwing a phone out the window and running over it with the car. I may still do that.

    I’m done with HTC. I had an HTC Incredible before that and a HTC G1 before that. The Incredible has similar asinine software problems that HTC never fixed.

    I’m done with Android. Enough of the sounds good but doesn’t work later. No support, no updates. You bought it you’re stuck with it. Android is JUNK. You should not have to root your phone to make it work.

    I pre-ordered 2 iPhone 5s and LOVE them. Everything WORKS and works GREAT! Even maps is awesome. Love the Siri integration. Folks nitpick the iPhone to death. Its perfection compared to the Thunderbolt.

    I can certainly see why HTC earnings dropped 79%. They’re out-a-here.

    • jimbo913

      10/18/2012 at 11:38 am

      Exactly. In addition to data connection issues, I have the same issue with the microphone. For some reason changing the volume “fixes” it, but it shouldn’t be happening. All these updates just seem to make the phone work worse and worse. I’m considering buying a different phone on Amazon at full price, and one thing I know is that it won’t be an HTC.

  58. muncho

    10/11/2012 at 7:25 am

    hi to everyone, I moved from Europe a few monhts ago and I must say I’m very disapointed with the network providers here, voice and data quality is incredible bad compaired to europe and the rates unbelievable high, for that service the customers should be paid, verizon data is so unreliable, very often with speeds like 2 kbps on the. “best 4G network” ha ha

  59. Jason

    10/17/2012 at 1:45 pm

    Switched to the iPhone.

    I think my actions spoke loudly. Fuck HTC, Verizon for this. I hope they see this too.

    • graywolfman

      10/18/2012 at 10:07 am

      Did you switch away from Verizon? If not, you just handed them more cash for the phone and/or contract, and they really don’t care what phone you buy.

  60. jesse

    10/19/2012 at 12:44 pm

    I never had a problem until I updated from froyo to gingerbread, now my data drops and I cant load my Maps or any other apps that I want to open. this was my first HTC and I had the worst Experience, now I’m switching to sprint once my contract is up and getting a SIII. HTC needs to work on their phones before bringing them out on the market.

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