ThunderBolt may soon be discontinued for Battery life issues & No New LTE devices until tiered data

[jinwons]

Not sure if that's true. Besides the battery issue, I saw some reports that TBolt has some issues picking up 3G signal and switching to it when it's getting out of 4G area. And 4G antenna is constantly searching for LTE signal. Can any TB users elaborate on this?

 

[wxman2003]

If this is true, then this would show the incompetence of verizon by not testing a phone properly before releasing it. So much for Verizon actually having a QC program. That's why I don't believe it. Verizon would be a laughing stock if they discontinued their only 4G phone so quickly after release.

 

[red66charger]

As most of you probably know by now, someone posted a similar thread on the Thunderbolt board and he or she is getting pretty lit up over there. The OP hasn't stepped forward with a link to prove were they read it or to defend themselves. I assume this is a hoax, but I can't say 100% for sure. I just wanted to mention it here so folks who haven't read the TB board won't flip out as soon as they see no more LTE devices until tiered data pricing. While that might ultimately be the case, I don't believe it is anywhere near official.

To answer this OP's question...I had the Thunderbolt for 9 days. I live in a strong 4G area near Clearwater, Florida. Only once did I notice 4G was not available. At the same time, neither was 3G. It lasted maybe a minute or two. But that only happened one time. 3 days after I purchased TB I traveled south to Naples, Florida which is a non-4G area. I didn't pay attention to when it switched to 3G, but when I got to Naples TB was in 3G mode and stayed that way the whole time I was there. No problems at all. I used the phone during my drive south (that is when I realized how AWFUL the speakerphone feature on the device is) and the phone operation worked except for the volume of the speaker. Again, I didn't check to see when 4G came back but it was seamless to me. I never had to reboot the device in the 9 days I had it.

Mostly, the device was brilliant. Except for that one glaring issue of the battery, and for me, the speaker. However, I sure wish Bionic had a kickstand. Somebody needs to make a case that has one just like TB's. I'd buy it

 

[jinwons]

As most of you probably know by now, someone posted a similar thread on the Thunderbolt board and he or she is getting pretty lit up over there. The OP hasn't stepped forward with a link to prove were they read it or to defend themselves. I assume this is a hoax, but I can't say 100% for sure. I just wanted to mention it here so folks who haven't read the TB board won't flip out as soon as they see no more LTE devices until tiered data pricing. While that might ultimately be the case, I don't believe it is anywhere near official.

To answer this OP's question...I had the Thunderbolt for 9 days. I live in a strong 4G area near Clearwater, Florida. Only once did I notice 4G was not available. At the same time, neither was 3G. It lasted maybe a minute or two. But that only happened one time. 3 days after I purchased TB I traveled south to Naples, Florida which is a non-4G area. I didn't pay attention to when it switched to 3G, but when I got to Naples TB was in 3G mode and stayed that way the whole time I was there. No problems at all. I used the phone during my drive south (that is when I realized how AWFUL the speakerphone feature on the device is) and the phone operation worked except for the volume of the speaker. Again, I didn't check to see when 4G came back but it was seamless to me. I never had to reboot the device in the 9 days I had it.

Mostly, the device was brilliant. Except for that one glaring issue of the battery, and for me, the speaker. However, I sure wish Bionic had a kickstand. Somebody needs to make a case that has one just like TB's. I'd buy it

I didn't start this thread and somehow the OP disappeared here. It seems as if you are answering my questions. Good to hear that it's seamless in transition between 3G and 4G. Still I won't get Tbolt due to poor battery, lack of HDMI, single core.

 

[red66charger]

I didn't start this thread and somehow the OP disappeared here. It seems as if you are answering my questions. Good to hear that it's seamless in transition between 3G and 4G. Still I won't get Tbolt due to poor battery, lack of HDMI, single core.

Yeah, I could tell you were commenting on the OP's post. I was just giving you my experience with TB. The OP was most likely looking for a reaction.

 

[Noga]

@red66charger
I haven't even taken a look at Verizon's 4G map as I'm waiting for the Bionic, however the strong coverage is good to hear. I live in New Port Richey, about an hour away. Belleair is such a nice area, I frequent it and IRB every once in a while to skim.

 

[63cobra]

I know or have heard nothing about a recall so not fueling a "rumor" however I can comment first hand on the 4g issue. I had a Bolt for exactally one week and had problems with it constantly going out of 4g and not getting on to/in to 3g before trying to switch back to 4g again (not sure if that's worded right,point is would not work) and I live in Orange County Ca. supposed to be "covered" for 4g. When I returned it rep. said they had several returnes for same reason. That's just my experience with the phone.

 

[red66charger]

@red66charger
I haven't even taken a look at Verizon's 4G map as I'm waiting for the Bionic, however the strong coverage is good to hear. I live in New Port Richey, about an hour away. Belleair is such a nice area, I frequent it and IRB every once in a while to skim.

Off Topic @Noga:
Cool! I'm right by the Belleair Bridge that takes you to Indian Rocks Beach.

On Topic:
I was definitely getting GREAT 4G service in downtown Clearwater and mid-Pinellas County with Thunderbolt. Don't know how the 4G signal is north of Clearwater. I was only in Tampa with it one day but never had an issue with 4G.

But somebody posted in another thread on the Bionic board that the "battery issue with Thunderbolt was overblown". That is completely wrong. I've seen a lot of TB owners defend the device as if the battery life is acceptable. I don't have a problem with people keeping TB and loving it. It is an amazing device. But please, be honest about the battery life. It is atrocious and denying that is as close as you can get to an outright lie. I just hope Bionic doesn't suffer from the same 4G vampire syndrome. Ha! I put vampire and Bionic in the same sentence.

 

[milan03]

I'd like to see a solid evidence for this rumor as the logic behind is non existent. Why would Verizon release their first LTE phone to discontinue it shortly after...?
The reasons are silly.

 

[Crude]

However, I sure wish Bionic had a kickstand. Somebody needs to make a case that has one just like TB's. I'd buy it

This!!

iphone what? I can't hear you over how big my kickstand is!

 

[droidSPARX]

that kickstand also functions as an antenna

 

[Lucidot]

I had a TB for 15 days and returned it yesterday for the data connection issue.

After doing quite a bit of reading today, I'm not so sure my phone was a fluke. The tech at the store couldn't get it to capture anything but a 1X signal. I have seen my wife's TB lose signal as well, but not that often. When it does it though, it just kills the battery.

I highly doubt they will discontinue it though.

 

[d3310n]

@red66charger
I haven't even taken a look at Verizon's 4G map as I'm waiting for the Bionic, however the strong coverage is good to hear. I live in New Port Richey, about an hour away. Belleair is such a nice area, I frequent it and IRB every once in a while to skim.

Haha really? What part?

 

[ChiTownJim]

I've had my Thunderbolt since launch I came from an Incredible . I live in Denver and I seem to get 4g everywhere when go up north and when I drove to Vegas it had no problems with 3g infact when I need to conserve battery life I will switch to 3gonly mode . The battery isn't great but it's not awful either . When I first got it I was getting about 8-12hrs of use now that I'm rooted I'm getting 20-30hrs . I know 8-12 is not great but it's enough to get you thru the day and if you have a car charger and plug it in on a drive home from work you'll probably make it all evening . I don't find my battery life much worse then my Incredible stock I was getting 10-15hrs on the DI and after root 24-35hrs . But that was also with a EVO battery that I had right from launch since I came from an Eris .

I think sometimes the battery issues are blown out of proportion , I used an Iphone4 which is supose to be the smartphone battery king , I used it for 1 week and my battery life was just enough to make it through the day 12-15hrs barely better then the Incredible . In conclusion I think a lot of people that complain about battery life are either coming from basic cell phones or blackberries all of which don't do anywhere near the same amount as stuff as a Android phone with a massive screen and 4G

Another little tip that I've discovered the last couple days that saves a lot of battery on the Thunderbolt is putting it into LTE only mode (only if you're in a strong 4g area) I'd say i'm getting an extra 2hrs of use since doing that . Only problem is if you drive out of 4g area you won't have any data until you turn on 3g but luckly Denver has AWESOME LTE 4G service

 

[rushmore]

I had a TB for 15 days and returned it yesterday for the data connection issue.

After doing quite a bit of reading today, I'm not so sure my phone was a fluke. The tech at the store couldn't get it to capture anything but a 1X signal. I have seen my wife's TB lose signal as well, but not that often. When it does it though, it just kills the battery.

I highly doubt they will discontinue it though.

Not a fluke and even sales folks where I live mention issues with their own TB's. First device blues seems to be the issue here. If you live in a fringe area or an area that was just upgraded to LTE, you have a higher chance of having issues.

The next few LTE devices all have different radio chips so we will have a good sample to see if the issue is the TB or the network itself.