Confirmed HTC ThunderBolt Release Date March 17 - Preorders 3/15 12 am PST

HTCThunderBOLT2.JPGAfter months of on-again, off-again release dates, we have finally gotten an official confirmation of when the HTC ThunderBolt will strike.  It will go on presale tonight and will be shipped on March 17 by Wirefly.

Update 3/15/2011: Verizon has issued a press release with all the details of the HTC ThunderBolt launch including pricing. The release date is March 17. The price is $249.99 which requires an unlimited 4G LTE data plan for $29.99 a month. The mobile hotspot feature is free until May 15 after that it will cost $20 a month for 2GB. 
Read Review of HTC ThunderBolt Tips an' Tricks Why Buy it Now?

A Wirefly spokeswoman confirmed that Wirefly will be taking preorders tonight at 3:00 am EST, 12:00 am PST for the HTC ThunderBolt.  Approved preorders will begin shipping March 17 for Wirefly.

We know from the past that Wirefly releases no smartphone before its time, and they have a low-price guarantee so that, if the price goes down, you will be able to get a rebate.  Best Buy has been taking preorders in stores since February.

Customers who made deposits are Best Buy stores were getting emails today saying that the HTC ThunderBolt would be in stores and the customers will get the chance to make appointments.

That 3:00 EST time may sound familiar because Verizon Wireless opened up preorders for the Verizon iPhone at the same time.  If this is correct, it may be worth a try to click over to Verizon Wireless at 12:00 am PST to order this highly-anticipated smartphone.
For those who are new to the story, the HTC ThunderBolt is the first 4G LTE smartphone from Verizon Wireless,

and it is expected to have "blazing fast" data speeds.  Starting in
April, there will be more 4G LTE Android smartphones coming -
specifically the Samsung Galaxy S Stealth 4G LTE with a Super AMOLED screen.and HDMI out connector, with no price set yet.  Read HTC ThunderBolt vs. Samsung Stealth comparison.

The HTC ThunderBolt is a 4G LTE Android 2.2 smartphone with HTC
Sense,
a 4.3-inch touchscreen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, Skype video calling,
mobile hotspots, GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.  Other features include a
built-in kickstand, Dolby/SRS surround sound, and DLNA support.  It was originally announced at CES in January.

Someone who attended a
Verizon VIP event reported that unlimited data plans will cost $29.99.  After a spate of price changes, the latest Best Buy Sunday circular ads show the price of the HTC ThunderBolt with a contract to be $299.99.

Read all ThunderBolt by HTC articles.  The HTC ThunderBolt is so popular that it appears in Wireless and Mobile News' Top Best Coolest Smartphones So Far in 2011 and Top Ten Best Android an' Droid Phones Now an' Later.  See all Wireless and Mobile News' Reviews.

Verizon Wireless new products page.