Droid Bionic is "permanently" delayed?

[Rominucka]

Just got back from a pretty lengthy conversation with a Verizon district manager in South Florida. When I asked him about the beloved Bionic, he said...and I quote, "It's been permanently delayed..." due to over heating and battery issues.

He said the Bionic is really cool. He had the chance to play with a handmade early prototype.
I think the word indefinitely is what he meant. Permanently means that it's never coming out.

 

[YankeeDudeL]

As far as I can tell, most Verizon reps have access to about as much info as we do, and from the same places we get them.

 

[Asterdroid]

Just got back from a pretty lengthy conversation with a Verizon district manager in South Florida. When I asked him about the beloved Bionic, he said...and I quote, "It's been permanently delayed..." due to over heating and battery issues.

He said the Bionic is really cool. He had the chance to play with a handmade early prototype.
I think the word indefinitely is what he meant. Permanently means that it's never coming out.

That might be a reference to the fact that it's a different phone now, even though it has the same name. All signs seem to point to the Targa becoming the new Bionic.

 

[DDave]

The person I speak with at my local store who historically has been pretty knowlegable, commented with similar remarks. It might be called the bionic, but it wont be what it was originally intedned to be.

She claimed it was something to do with a combination of LTE radio and dual core processors.

sigh..

Do we REALLY know about when the "Bionic" aka Targa will be out then? I'm due for an upgrade and would really like to get a 4G contract on a solid phone.

 

[Rominucka]

Nice avatar DDave, and the guy I talked to wasn't a rep. He's in charge of all the stores in all of South Florida...they fly him out to trade shows, conventions, the whole nine.

He's the only Verizon employee, I've talked to, that clearly knows tons more about these phones than me...and I barely know shit.
When I mentioned LauncherPro he said, "That's what I use", instead of the standard "Huh?" I normally get.

 

[dmodert66]

Meh. My last conversation with a Verizon employee (granted, this was at a Verizon Plus store, and the guys there I normally talk to are much more knowledgeable and are running rooted phones).

Me "Hi, I would like to use my upgrade and get an X2, when will you have them in the store?".

Her "The Droid X2? You mean the Incredible 2?".

Me "No, the Droid X2. New phone, came out Friday".

Her "I don't think so, if it's a phone that is released, it will be on our website".

Me "It IS on your website"

Her (Yells over to another employee) "Have you heard anything about the Droid X2?".

Him "Nope, are you sure you aren't talking about the Incredible 2?"

Me (Facepalm)

Me "Nevermind, I'll check back when it is in stores."

Her "Great. Make sure you come to me when you are ready to upgrade!" (hands me business card).

WOW.

Also, I played with the "Hand Built" for CES Bionic as well. Anyone who walked by the Moto booth could do so, so that regional manager is nothing special IMO and probably knows as much as we do. The booth reps also said it would be a Q2 release so they could get Gingerbread on it, rather than Froyo. The product manager for the Bionic also told me "Early Q2, defenitly not later Q2"...LOL

They should have had the guy who was product manager for the Xoom work on the Bionic instead of the Xoom. Xoom is fantastic but over priced and isn't selling. The Bionic is well speced, but not out. I wonder if he could have pushed it out on time (he was the PM for the original Droid).

 

[DDave]

FWIW,

A buddy of mine was chatting with Verizon (online chat). The verizon person claims they JUST recieved product information about the Bionic (My guess is with the OMAP processors) and its release date of the first week in July.

I have nothing to back this up as its information given to me... but... just keeping the rumor mill flowing...

 

[Lucidot]

Hey Rominucka, thanks for the info. I'm trying to hold out as long as possible to get the Bionic. I am currently off contract and chomping at the bit. I may need to bite the bullet and just get something else.

Funny how people on here are quick to judge or discredit someone as soon as they mention talking to a VZW employee.

@DDave, Hope your buddy isn't yanking your chain.

 

[DDave]

I hope not either. He's wanting this as bad as I am.

Keeping my fingers crossed... I guess if this phone doesnt surface by end of July and there is no evidence that its REALLY coming out in the not so distant future, I'll probably just have to jump on the DX2 bandwagon.

 

[Asterdroid]

FWIW,

A buddy of mine was chatting with Verizon (online chat). The verizon person claims they JUST recieved product information about the Bionic (My guess is with the OMAP processors) and its release date of the first week in July.

I have nothing to back this up as its information given to me... but... just keeping the rumor mill flowing...

How did he do this? They only offer live chat for their residential services, not their wireless services.

 

[BlueIce5249]

As far as I can tell, most Verizon reps have access to about as much info as we do, and from the same places we get them.

Yeah, Reps/Managers don't know anymore than we do about anything. I know people who work for VZW and Sprint and they all say the same thing, they don't tell us anything. Even the district managers don't know about upcoming devices or services. And I GUARANTEE you, if they did...we'd know too.

Ignore everything you hear inside a VZW store.

 

[Lucidot]

I hope not either. He's wanting this as bad as I am.

Keeping my fingers crossed... I guess if this phone doesnt surface by end of July and there is no evidence that its REALLY coming out in the not so distant future, I'll probably just have to jump on the DX2 bandwagon.

That's the phone I was looking at as well. Just wish it had 4G as it will be available in my area the first part of June.

I may try another Thunderbolt too. I just had too many issues with my first 2 and wasn't going to try a 3rd one with only 2 days left on my 15 day return period.

 

[smguy101]

Tweet from Motorola:
Hang tight. DROID Bionic is coming and slated for summer release. Our team is working on some new updatess.

 

[Lucidot]

Tweet from Motorola:
Hang tight. DROID Bionic is coming and slated for summer release. Our team is working on some new updatess.

So any time between June 21st and September 23rd.

WOW!!!! Glad they narrowed it down for us.

 

[GBH2]

Reliable Motorola "leakers" are saying 1 month from now for Droid 3. 2 months after Droid 3 for Droid (Targa) Bionic. So We are looking at an end of August or Beginning of September release.

 

[Rominucka]

Just in time to do head to head battle with the new iPhone. I'll be working for Verizon by then and I will do my best to undersell Apple. It won't be a problem because nobody but Apple really makes money on the iPhone.

 

[DDave]

How did he do this? They only offer live chat for their residential services, not their wireless services.

I'll ask him.

 

[DDave]

Here is his exact reply.

Verizon tech/customer service online from vzw.com

I'm not making claims here, just passing on informaiton.

 

[Asterdroid]

Here is his exact reply.

Verizon tech/customer service online from vzw.com

I'm not making claims here, just passing on informaiton.

No worries man. I didn't mean to sound like I was throwing stones. I've grown cynical from too much time on these forums scanning for leaks/updates.

The good news is, apparently BMX tweeted that he's got the new Bionic in hand for testing and is trying to get permission to leak the hardware specs.

Twitter

 

[DDave]

No worries man. I didn't mean to sound like I was throwing stones. I've grown cynical from too much time on these forums scanning for leaks/updates.

The good news is, apparently BMX tweeted that he's got the new Bionic in hand for testing and is trying to get permission to leak the hardware specs.

Twitter

Oh, I'm with you there... too many times I've read things of ppl making claims of sorts... Just making sure that everyone reading this knows I have nothing to back up what I'm posting and its all speculation.

Who is BMX??

 

[Asterdroid]

Oh, I'm with you there... too many times I've read things of ppl making claims of sorts... Just making sure that everyone reading this knows I have nothing to back up what I'm posting and its all speculation.

Who is BMX??

He's a Verizon tester. Leaks a lot of info over at android central.

 

[redraider1]

FWIW,

A buddy of mine was chatting with Verizon (online chat). The verizon person claims they JUST recieved product information about the Bionic (My guess is with the OMAP processors) and its release date of the first week in July.

I have nothing to back this up as its information given to me... but... just keeping the rumor mill flowing...

This would be awesome if true since that is when I am due for an upgrade but I wont hold my breath lol

 

[redraider1]

Tweet from Motorola:
Hang tight. DROID Bionic is coming and slated for summer release. Our team is working on some new updatess.

ha that was my tweet asking when it will come gotta love the response you always get. Summer is a long time lol.

 

[YankeeDudeL]

Summer is a long time lol.

Especially when you consider it hasn't even started yet, and won't for another two weeks.

 

[redraider1]

Especially when you consider it hasn't even started yet, and won't for another two weeks.

Yeah June 21-sept 22 that is a pretty wide time span.