Connect with us

Mobile

HTC Offers Candid ThunderBolt Ice Cream Sandwich Update Reponse

Published

on

While HTC and Verizon remain publicly silent about the whereabouts of the HTC ThunderBolt Ice Cream Sandwich update, we have learned that the manufacturer was extremely candid with at least one customer about the update and its progress.

A reader shared an email exchange he had with an HTC representative, a representative who went a little bit further than the non-answers that the HTC Facebook account has been spewing out on a daily basis regarding the missing ThunderBolt ICS update.

Originally, the HTC ThunderBolt Ice Cream Sandwich update was supposed to be out by the end of August. It’s now nearing the end of September and owners are still in the dark.

Read: HTC ThunderBolt & Incredible 2 Owners Waiting for Ice Cream Sandwich.

tbolt24-570x600-546x575

HTC still says the HTC ThunderBolt ICS update is coming.

In the email, the HTC representative states that the HTC ThunderBolt is still on the way, as far as he/she is aware. They are also fairly forward about the testing process and some of the timing between the testing phase and the release.

Here is what they said:

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. At any point in the software development cycle a situation may be encountered that requires anything from some minor additional rework, to complete rewrites of the software base. Only after the final acceptance testing has been successfully completed will HTC release software. The normal time period between the final acceptance testing and release of software is about a week and often shorter than that. I do apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you.

The big thing here for most people is that first sentence where the representative says that the update should still be coming. It’s not a firm confirmation but at least it gives HTC ThunderBolt owners hope.

Read: HTC Admits It Will Miss ThunderBolt Ice Cream Sandwich Update Deadline.

Sadly, this is probably about as candid HTC is going to get about the update until it arrives, if it arrives. Thus far, the companies involved have given customers nothing but vague responses about the updates whereabouts.

Has anyone else heard something similar from HTC?

33 Comments

33 Comments

  1. Alex

    09/20/2012 at 11:09 am

    Yeath, keep believing what they say. They’ve been saying “it’s on the way” for weeks now. I just gave up. Will get either iphone 5 or samsung galaxy s3.

    • Sandy Hoover

      09/20/2012 at 3:11 pm

      I am with you…I lost faith with HTC…forever. SGS3 for me.

  2. gb

    09/20/2012 at 11:52 am

    What a way to run a company.The thunderbolt was my first, second, third and last HTC phone I will ever buy. I say that because that’s how many I have gone through because of all the problems with it. Waited for Gingerbread, now waiting for ICS. HTC clearly does not care about it’s customers. I too have given up and will be getting the IPHONE 5 in 50 days.

  3. Paul

    09/20/2012 at 12:02 pm

    I got the same response in an email 4 weeks ago. I’m with a lot of people. In 2 months I will be getting a new phone and you can be sure it will not be an HTC product!

  4. Steve

    09/20/2012 at 1:01 pm

    Just install the Liquid Smooth ROM. It’s super smooth, and probably better than what HTC will come out with anyway.

    • turboluis

      09/20/2012 at 5:31 pm

      Tried it for a week, sucks, no video, bad camera performance, no Netflix. Everyone is better off with CM7.2, everything works and it’s plenty fast.

    • Jeff

      09/30/2012 at 6:47 pm

      Liquid Smooth doesn’t work very well and has problems. I used to ROM for a week, and now I’m back to an older ROM so that I can have data, bluetooth, and fewer application crashes.

  5. Willard

    09/20/2012 at 1:19 pm

    What a way to keep you in a 2-year contract. I plan to upgrade my phone in November 2012 and get rid of this HTC product!

    • turboluis

      09/20/2012 at 5:34 pm

      Get an iPhone, software updates are always released on time.

      • Paul

        09/21/2012 at 3:38 am

        But the Iphone is garbage…IMO…

      • David Meckes

        09/24/2012 at 11:42 am

        What good are timely updates when you’re 1.5 years behind in features?
        Android had 4G LTE 1.5 years ahead of the iPhone.
        Android had bigger screens 1.5 years ahead of the iPhone.
        Android had multitasking 1.5 years ahead of the iPhone.
        Android had the notification bar 1.5 years ahead of the iPhone.
        Android has had widgets for over 2 years, iPhone is still waiting.
        Android has had NFC for over 6 months, iPhone is still waiting.

  6. Nick

    09/20/2012 at 2:29 pm

    I forgot to mention – That email is hardly candid. It’s just a slightly more elaborate version of the canned responses HTC keeps dumping on their FB page. Both boil down to the same thing – “It’s still coming, but now we have no idea when”. I would be much happier if they actually just came out and said yes there was a huge setback with the software development and it’s going to take a while longer, hang in there. Not this keep everyone in the dark BS. I was anticipating that HTC phablet too but not anymore. GS3 bound this weekend.

  7. Joe Phone

    09/20/2012 at 4:09 pm

    I was told at a Verizon store that ICS for the TBolt was scrapped. This was around the end of August.

    No worries – HTC showed me how they do business so I’m good. First and last HTC phone I’ll ever own.

  8. Bob

    09/20/2012 at 4:53 pm

    Doubt it will ever come out. Even the later adopters (Me included) only have 5-6 months left before upgrade time, so there is very little benefit for HTC to release it. Especially since most T-bolt owners already hate them.

  9. tom

    09/20/2012 at 7:53 pm

    why is nobody complaining about Verizon ? htc cant do anything till the moron carrier releases it .

    • TheCyberTrekker

      09/29/2012 at 6:01 pm

      +100000000000

  10. disgusted

    09/20/2012 at 9:13 pm

    Got shafted by HTC on the upgrades and by Verizon on the promise of unlimited data…… they make a good team!

  11. jd

    09/20/2012 at 9:24 pm

    Came over here from an LG spectrum thread and experiencing the same thing. Samsung continuum made me lose interest there. These places all screw the consumer….or wait the common denominator is Verizon for me.

  12. bb

    09/21/2012 at 6:40 am

    Disgusted as well. wait wait wait. All these folks who are jumping ship to an iphone or Samsung SIII need to realize that you will LOSE your unlimited data unless you pay FULL PRICE for your phone ($650 for the cheapest, newest iphone). Any early upgrade or subsidized upgrade at your 2 yr marker will result in a new contract and loss of unlimited data (if you have it). The only lucky ones are folks who had a second line for $10/month and were able to upgrade on that line subsidized and then transfer/activate that phone to their main line and put their old one on the older line (which will now have a data cap). I’m still on my original tbolt that I didn’t buy until June of 2011, so I couldn’t even get a subsidized phone now if I were to be willing to give up on unlimited data. However, as devil’s advocate, if you want the latest Android OS, you should stick to buying a Google-made device (e.g. Nexus) because there aren’t the issues with carrier-delayed updates. They are there after initial purchase (you can get 4.1 jellybean already), but is it worth it to stay with your provider? That’s the question…

    • Mithrandir48

      09/27/2012 at 1:23 pm

      There is a company called Sprint…you may have heard of them, they still offer unlimited data.

  13. galaxy

    09/21/2012 at 6:42 am

    HTC probably has one tester allocated to test this update and a half-time developer to fix issues. As others have said, they have alienated practically their entire Thunderbolt customer base already, so what difference does it make when the update comes out or if it comes out at all, as those people will all start rolling into new phones soon anyway. Problem for HTC is that I think many of those people will not consider HTC after having this buggy phone. I think a timely ICS update months ago would have provoked those owners to really consider getting another HTC phone, but at this point all hope is lost, those people are gone.

    • H boogie

      09/27/2012 at 2:07 pm

      I totally agree. Love the phone. Considered it a timely investment, but I guess not. Hate the updating software service. It’s more lucrative to let the phone fall by the wayside.

  14. Mike

    09/21/2012 at 10:23 am

    I received the same letter from HTC. I spoke with a rep from Verizon yesterday and he confirmed that the new slated release date is 10/21, which was based on Verizon’s release to employees. I dont think they are broadcasting it just in case they have to push it off again. It sounds like it may have been an issue with the data constantly throttleing as well as HTC’s possible focus on their Windows phones.

    • H boogie

      09/27/2012 at 2:13 pm

      I really hope you’re right. It’s hard not to loose hope. It’s hard to think that they did not consider the ramifications of not having Integrity with TBolt phone owners. Bad business on their part.

  15. mattyice

    09/24/2012 at 8:53 pm

    I have talked to Verizon who admitted it is their fault. They have to do “extensive” testing. It is bullshit but It is Verizon not HTC. Join me! Call Verizon and give em hell!

  16. McFly

    10/02/2012 at 11:07 pm

    you all are clowns. Im sure none of you were saying this when you got LTE 4g first as a verizon owner thunderbolt. Running on Liquid smooth with a little bit of my own fixings on top and running as a daily driver. Have a 64GB sd card and the phone is still worth it. I am sure some of you were on your knees two years ago sucking off HTC AND VERIZON

  17. Mark

    10/03/2012 at 5:04 am

    Well I was going to hold out on upgrading because of the ICS update but now I will probably be jumping on the Razr HD Maxx once it’s released…

  18. chad

    10/03/2012 at 9:45 am

    Wow talking about jumping off the band wagon. HTC is a company that cares more about its updates working right just as much as Verizon does. why put out junk software cause all you people would do is complain about. And don’t say you wouldn’t.

    • nufan

      10/04/2012 at 9:34 pm

      HTC needs to give a date for ICS or do what motorola is doing a credit (100$) to get a new phone. plus if u call verizon they say its Htc and if u call htc they say its verizon. Who has the ball and what is the real truth. Droid bionic is the same as all this post just put htc and motorola the same

      • Christine

        11/02/2012 at 12:25 pm

        I was told by a VZW rep months ago that the Thunderbolt was scratched off the ics update list. She said, originally, yes it was suppose to receive the update, for whatever reason it is no longer going to receive the ics update. ;-(

  19. steve

    10/05/2012 at 6:19 pm

    I get a upgrade in januraury so Ill wait till then and see what is available but Im done with HTC. Im staying with verizon because I had unlimited data before they changed it so I still have the unlimied data.

  20. Robert

    10/11/2012 at 10:57 am

    I just bought a Rezound with factory ICS off Ebay. I just finished my 5th Thunderbolt. Yes Verizon wants you to Early upgrade so you can lose your Grandfather Unlimited Data Plan, Screw that, pay cash for a phone, keep your plan and kiss the Tbolt goodbye. HTC and Verizon lied AND knew the ICS was buggy and would not be released, so they decide to not say anything and when the contracts are up on the Thunderbolt, they can wash their hands of it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.