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[RELEASED] The 4.3 inch "Thunderbolt" aka "Mecha" aka "Incredible HD" from HTC...beyond coming soon!

I'm not a HUGE data user, so if these tiered data plans are only on 4G phones, it may be a deal breaker for me. I may have to go with a 3G only phone. I'd be surprised if I ever used 2GB a month.
 
gunner252 said:
I'm not a HUGE data user, so if these tiered data plans are only on 4G phones, it may be a deal breaker for me. I may have to go with a 3G only phone. I'd be surprised if I ever used 2GB a month.
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There are some opinions out there that the new data plans will save people like you (and me... 2-2.5GB) some money. That is to say, we will fall into a lower tier, and possibly a lower price ($25). Again, this is just talk, but I've heard it quite a few places.
 
I think I'm done waiting. Probably going to pick up the DX by the end of the weekend. My area doesn't have 4g yet, but is supposed to get it by the end of the year. But it's something I can probably live without. If the TB gets released within the 14 days, I'll return the X for it. Otherwise, I'll let them work the kinks out and go 4g in 1-2 years.
 
Wantin said:
So for a guy like me, who has no idea how much I would use, does anyone think the new plans would break the bank?

I will probably be your "average" user, fascinated and on it an hour or two a day...playing around, having fun. I have no idea what constitutes what amount of data, but I'd hope I could afford a decent plan. I guess the idea is, does anyone think the tier will favor one kind of user over another?

A "better for most, but sucks for the top percent" kind of thing? Or a "everyone's prices will go up a tad" kind of thing?

Thoughts? (Now that the wife has given me permission to use some of her hard-earned cash for the TB and our plan, I don't want to lose out! :)
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I use my phone a lot for checking websites, pandora, and downloading podcasts. Even still, I think that I've only gone over 2 GB once. The stuff that is going to take the most data is the new stuff that is rolling out such as netflix and skype. Also if they start to use the cloud music streaming that could also eat a lot of data. For this sort of stuff you may want make sure that you are in an area that has wifi.

I think that the further pushing of wifi out will also help reduce the data consumption. As businesses, airports, and even cities start to make it available then you can become less dependent on these data packages. Within several years, I wouldn't be surprised if we get to a point that we only need wireless data when we are traveling out of town.
 
I have been streaming music over Subsonic for almost a week now and my plan still shows that I've only used 0.921 GB, that is on day 18 of 28, I really don't think I'm going to be too worried about the tiered data plans. I really do think they are aiming them so that the biggest data users will pay more while the rest of us will be paying less. If you really think about it 2 GB is a lot to use in a month, even with streaming music.
 
StillgotanEris said:
I use my phone a lot for checking websites, pandora, and downloading podcasts. Even still, I think that I've only gone over 2 GB once. The stuff that is going to take the most data is the new stuff that is rolling out such as netflix and skype. Also if they start to use the cloud music streaming that could also eat a lot of data. For this sort of stuff you may want make sure that you are in an area that has wifi.

I think that the further pushing of wifi out will also help reduce the data consumption. As businesses, airports, and even cities start to make it available then you can become less dependent on these data packages. Within several years, I wouldn't be surprised if we get to a point that we only need wireless data when we are traveling out of town.
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I am not so sure about that. We can count the number of places that offer free Wi-Fi on our fingers. There has got to be an incentive to offer free Wi-Fi. Places like Starbucks can afford that as this would mean that people would hang around these places sipping on their coffee or munching on some overpriced snack. Also, there are very few airports that offer free Wi-Fi. Most flights that I have taken require a certain amount to be paid for accessing Wi-Fi.
 
StillgotanEris said:
I use my phone a lot for checking websites, pandora, and downloading podcasts. Even still, I think that I've only gone over 2 GB once. The stuff that is going to take the most data is the new stuff that is rolling out such as netflix and skype. Also if they start to use the cloud music streaming that could also eat a lot of data. For this sort of stuff you may want make sure that you are in an area that has wifi.

I think that the further pushing of wifi out will also help reduce the data consumption. As businesses, airports, and even cities start to make it available then you can become less dependent on these data packages. Within several years, I wouldn't be surprised if we get to a point that we only need wireless data when we are traveling out of town.
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I agree about the wi-fi . I am on it about 85% of the time (office at home).
Do all big downloads on wi-fi , podcasts, movies, music ,etc.
A little planning will save you a lot of money. I also agree with you that wi-fi is the future and it will be everywhere to attract customers to businesses.
Just have to work out the security issues on public wi-fi.
 
StillgotanEris said:
Within several years, I wouldn't be surprised if we get to a point that we only need wireless data when we are traveling out of town.
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I agree WiFi will be more prevalent, but it doesn't matter. You'll still have to pay 4G/3G prices for Verizon if you have a smartphone with those capabilities even if you rarely use it... They're not going to give you a Thunderbolt without a data plan.

And if more people are not using their network, and instead using WiFi, then they'll raise their pricing on their lowest tier.
 
After reading this all, I just want to say...

Thanks db for your info consolidation posts. It's much easier to follow this one thread than lurk on multiple forums and twitter. You're awesome.

Thanks jay for keeping us up on BB info. You're awesome.

Ben^5 is probably PR and not business analytics, but the info he's providing seems as solid as any. You're awesome.

BMX is awesome for his insights. He's doubly awesome for being in engineering since those are my peeps. I wish he'd come back and do more Q&A with us.

The mods/admins are awesome for keeping this place nice.

Everyone else is awesome for not making this place into the cluster that some other forums have degraded into. Thank you.


Ok, carry on with the TB stuff.
 
mdeblaz said:
I agree WiFi will be more prevalent, but it doesn't matter. You'll still have to pay 4G/3G prices for Verizon if you have a smartphone with those capabilities even if you rarely use it... They're not going to give you a Thunderbolt without a data plan.

And if more people are not using their network, and instead using WiFi, then they'll raise their pricing on their lowest tier.[/QUOTE

They don't care if I use wi-fi , gives them more open space on the network for the data guzzlers. They don't care if you use all of your alloted data as long as you pay for it.
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StillgotanEris said:
I use my phone a lot for checking websites, pandora, and downloading podcasts. Even still, I think that I've only gone over 2 GB once. The stuff that is going to take the most data is the new stuff that is rolling out such as netflix and skype. Also if they start to use the cloud music streaming that could also eat a lot of data. For this sort of stuff you may want make sure that you are in an area that has wifi.

I think that the further pushing of wifi out will also help reduce the data consumption. As businesses, airports, and even cities start to make it available then you can become less dependent on these data packages. Within several years, I wouldn't be surprised if we get to a point that we only need wireless data when we are traveling out of town.
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This is just one reason why some may think they are okay now, but will not be real soon. One movie averages 700mb to 1.2gb streaming via Netflix (with a good connection- Netflix scales quality to the bandwidth).

I am able to watch Netlfix fine using my iPod 4, tethered to 3G with my Incredible. I do not need 4G for that, but will not use Netflix if tiered pricing.

added:

Moot anyway, since will not get tiered data plan.
 
rushmore said:
This is just one reason why some may think they are okay now, but will not be real soon. One movie averages 700mb to 1.2gb streaming via Netflix (with a good connection- Netflix scales quality to the bandwidth).

I am able to watch Netlfix fine using my iPod 4, tethered to 3G with my Incredible. I do not need 4G for that, but will not use Netflix if tiered pricing.
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I would rather watch movies on my netbook than my phone , lot larger screen.
 
looks like i was right:


HighHandicap said:
Bennnnn, I appreciate the insights. With several recent articles and interviews, a lot of folks in the forums are saying that the delays are about the LTE network and tiered pricing of the data plans. When you talk about the "policies chang(ing)", is that some policy related to the pricing of LTE?

Hopefully that's generic enough that you can respond without spelling out if the TB will get unlimited 4G or if it will roll out with the tiered 4G plans.

Bennnnn said:
Yes, when I refer to policy changes I do in fact mean 4G LTE pricing.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NCX
Hey, Bennnnn, this showed up in my twitter feed this morning, any truth to it?

SFECorvette Janette Quiroz
@droid_life good friend at Verizon says launch party the 15th in OKC so 17th launch date is highly likely for HTC Thunderbolt

"Looks good to me. "


Me: I hope so, I WANT THAT PHONE! lol
 
They are saying on htcpedia today that vzw employees have purposely given out false leeks to the mobile websites. lol
 
theacoustician said:
Why on Earth would this be a good idea?
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keeps hope up... even if it is false hope. if the rumored dates had skipped from feb 14th all the way to march 17th with nothing in between, how many people would have forgotten about the phone for a month? stringing out release dates keeps people talking, and it seems like VZ is going with the "any press is good press" model for the TB launch. we may all be angry about how the situation has been handled, but the fact remains... we're all here discussing it. if other dates had not been put out there, do you really think this thread (and others) would contain over 3000 posts?

i do not agree with this tactic... but it IS working.
 
Originally Posted by HighHandicap
Bennnnn, I appreciate the insights. With several recent articles and interviews, a lot of folks in the forums are saying that the delays are about the LTE network and tiered pricing of the data plans. When you talk about the "policies chang(ing)", is that some policy related to the pricing of LTE?

Hopefully that's generic enough that you can respond without spelling out if the TB will get unlimited 4G or if it will roll out with the tiered 4G plans.

Bennnnn

Yes, when I refer to policy changes I do in fact mean 4G LTE pricing.

_____

Originally Posted by NCX
Hey, Bennnnn, this showed up in my twitter feed this morning, any truth to it?

SFECorvette Janette Quiroz
@droid_life good friend at Verizon says launch party the 15th in OKC so 17th launch date is highly likely for HTC Thunderbolt

Bennnnn

Looks good to me.

_____

Bennnnn

I haven't been told an explicit announcement date yet, but if this phone is completely ready by next week, I would guess we would hear something on the 15th too, though that is just my opinion.

_____

Originally Posted by thedeceiver
When will we have a feel for the technical issues being resolved? And BMX tweeted it as a region by region problem... correct?

Bennnnn

Correct. I'm sure BMX can give a definite ETA for a resolution. He's the one fixing it after all!

_____

Bennnnn

I'm not going to comment on pricing till I know for sure. I don't want you guys getting upset over something that could very well change before launch.
 
So that pretty much confirms (unofficially) that the phone is ready, but VZW has LTE network and pricing issues to resolve.

Who knows what this means to the launch date.
 
It can't be , most of the country is still 3G and will be for a while. I am sure it will toggle back and forth between 3 & 4G.

re: post # 3046
 
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