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Verizon Wants Thunderbolt Fans to Move “On to Other Topics”

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The Verizon Thunderbolt is getting a ton of attention, not all of it good. There’s still not a clear release date for the device, despite the fact that Best Buy, the ‘exclusive’ retail partner for the Thunderbolt launch is already advertising the device in its weekly circular and has been taking pre-orders since February 6 at its retail locations.

A Best Buy store representative even Tweeted that the Android smartphone would be available on March 4 last Thursday, which had previously been pegged as a rumored Thunderbolt release date. Other sources, including HTC reps have also pointed to the March 4 release date, assuming Verizon and its partners could work through some politics. A mid March release may prove more likely at this point.

Countless HTC Thunderbolt fans have been enquiring as to when they’d be able to get their hand on the device.  They’ve tried contact Verizon through retail locations, customer support channels and Verizon’s official Twitter channel. Multiple ‘official’ launch dates have been given to Verizon customers and many have the impression that the Verizon Thunderbolt by HTC is already late.

Verizon Wireless tried to clear things up by responding to a tweet sent that accused Verizon of delaying the Thunderbolt release. The customer’s Tweet read:

“@Verizonwireless NOW the #Thunderbolt release date is the 28th?!? Your iPhone sucks & so does your marketing”

Verizon dignified @Raunchy_Jesus by responding with the above Tweet. I think Verizon’s PR rep, our whomever manages the @VerizonWireless Twitter account should probably steer clear of engaging in conversation with someone that goes by the name of Jesus Harold Christ and has a photo of Jesus in the midst of a homosexual joke as his Twitter background. If the guy behind that Twitter account isn’t a troll, I don’t know what one is.

But the Tweet is absolutely accurate. Verizon Wireless itself has not announced an official Thunderbolt release date thus far. Individuals that work customer service or at retail locations have given their best guesses, but we haven’t heard a thing about the Thunderbolt via the Verizon corporate channels.

On Wednesday, Verizon Wireless sent another Tweet about the Thunderbolt and the folks behind the @verizonwireless Twitter account appear to be tiring of questions about the HTC Thunderbolt . Perhaps they want the geeks of the world to focus on products you can actually buy at Verizon stores, such as the Motorola Xoom and Apple iPhone 4.

As much as Verizon would like to steer the conversation away from the Thunderbolt, I think the company owes its customers an explanation. Its partners and own employees on the ground have made a confusing mess of the Thunderbolt release.

So when is the Thunderbolt going to hit store shelves? We still don’t know and neither does anybody else. You can sign up for official alerts over at Verizon.com. We haven’t heard a peep from them, but wish we’d hear some Thunder sooner rather than later.  We thought the release date was close when Verizon released an HTC Thunderbolt commercial, but it soon pulled it off YouTube.

18 Comments

18 Comments

  1. fuzzy

    03/01/2011 at 2:00 am

    still waiting….

  2. GoodThings2Life

    03/01/2011 at 2:02 am

    You know, this type of thing is exactly why Apple insists on such high levels of secrecy with their products. It keeps everybody positively hyped rather than pissed that it’s not here yet.

    • Xavier Lanier

      03/01/2011 at 5:54 am

      Yes, too many companies announce product far too long before we can actually buy them. Really kills the excitement when you have to wait several months before you can actually get your hands on it.

  3. Goeagles

    03/01/2011 at 2:17 am

    They could make it all go away if they would just tell us when it is coming out. Had no problem taking our money for pre-sales a month ago. We have every right to be upset. If amazon, best buy and HTC wouldn’t of advertised that it was available we wouldn’t be in this situation. Get your act together Verizon

    • Xavier Lanier

      03/01/2011 at 5:52 am

      Completely agree that reservations shouldn’t have kicked off unless there was a firm release date.

      • Taino Azteca

        03/03/2011 at 2:07 am

        I am also anticipating the release of the Thunderbolt, but I am not angry at Verizon over all this commotion. The reality is, Verizon has absolutely nothing to do with Best Buys blunder, or what any part time sales associate says at a sales kiosk. All Verizon has said is, COMING SOON!

        These are the facts: Best Buy took pre-orders, Best Buy released various dates, Best Buy is NOT Verizon. Be mad at Best Buy, and stop listening to them.

    • ArcherSuit

      03/04/2011 at 4:17 am

      Verizon didn’t take your money. A 3rd party who sells phones in accordance with Verizon and the manufacturer took your money. Just like any other company with marketing sense, they build up hype so you talk about it. It’s no different than a movie preview saying “coming soon in a theater near you, summer 2012” You’re going to talk about it and not get pissed about the date. Well, perhaps YOU would.

  4. Cuhulin

    03/01/2011 at 4:59 am

    I have been wondering whether some of the ‘politics’ might be about the name, which, in turn, would relate to the advertisement that Verizon posted, then pulled. Intel released its own Thunderbolt this month, and I doubt they want confusion about the trademark.

  5. StangGT

    03/01/2011 at 5:11 am

    I don’t want to move on to other topics. I don’t give a damn about the crappy Iphone or the stupid Motorola Xoom. I hate Apple and all their retarded Iproducts, and I am not buying another Motorola product. I despise my Motorola Droid now. I love HTC’s user interface, but i’m not gonna get the Droid Incredible cause it’s out of date now. I want the Thunderbolt, and if Verizon wants people to get the Iphone instead why are they even putting commercials on tv for the Thunderbolt that say coming soon. Just tell people that it’s not coming anytime soon so you should just come buy the crappy Iphone and all it’s crappines.

  6. Tony

    03/01/2011 at 7:13 pm

    Verizon just wants the angry mob to go away because they’re too brainless to deal with them. They failed and there’s no escape from it.

  7. Awaw

    03/02/2011 at 1:54 am

    maybe people should “move on to other carriers” instead of moving on to other topics….

    • Staraptor

      03/06/2011 at 5:52 pm

      Ya I agree dude. Everyone should threaten to leave verizon if they don’t tell when the Thunderbolt comes out.

  8. Anonymous

    03/09/2011 at 4:49 am

    On to other topics eh? That’s what Verizon defines as customer retention? Well, who am I to argue. On to other topics……..aside from Verizon that is.

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