HTC ThunderBolt, Verizon's First 4G Smartphone, Now Available

Verizon is finally launched the first smartphone able to connect to its LTE 4G network, the HTC ThunderBolt.

This cutting-edge Android OS device was unveiled at the CES tradeshow in early January, and for over two months now, many Verizon customer's have been itching to get their hands on its combination of 4G, a large touchscreen, and an 8-megapixel camera.

The ThunderBolt's support for LTE should give it data transfer speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps for downloads and 2 to 5 Mbps upload speeds under real world conditions. For comparison, tests on this carrier's current 3G network gave download speeds of 0.6 to 1.6 Mbps and upload speeds of 0.5 to 0.8 Mbps. 

It has a bar shape with a 4.3-inch WVGA (840 x 480) screen and a kickstand on the back. This combination will make this an unusually good option for watching mobile video.

This HTC model runs Google's Android OS 2.2 (Froyo) with HTC's Sense overlay.

It is built around a 1 GHz processor, and includes 8 GB of internal storage capacity, plus it will have a microSD card slot with a bundled 32 GB card for a total of 40 GB.

The ThunderBolt has an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera as well as a front-facing camera. It is not bundled with any for video conferencing software, as the release of Skype for Android is taking longer than expected.

Other features of this smartphone include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a digital compass, GPS, a proximity sensor, and a G-sensor.

Price and Availability
The HTC ThunderBolt is available now in Verizon stores and this carrier's website. It's also available at other retailers like Best Buy and on the online shop Wirefly.

The official price for the HTC ThunderBolt is $250 with a two-year service contract, and customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package. Voice plans begin at $39.99 a month, and an unlimited 4G LTE data plan is $29.99 a month.