HTC ThunderBolt Gets Android OS 2.3 Upgrade at Long Last

The HTC ThunderBolt was one of the last models to debut with Android OS 2.2 (Froyo), but an upgrade to OS 2.3 (Gingerbread) is finally available. Verizon made this announcement just a few minutes ago via its Twitter feed.

There are no dramatic changes in the new version of this smartphone operating system, but it does include many small enhancements to the user interface and the bundled apps. A Downloads app has been added, for example, and a Running tab has been added to Settings. This allows users of this device to go into Settings to manage the apps that are running, making it easier for users to close software in the background.

To download Android OS 2.3 for the ThunderBolt, go to Settings > Software Update > Check New. This will download the new version over the air (OTA), directly to this handset. Generally, this is best done over a Wi-Fi connection, especially for those on a tiered data plan, as the upgrade will be a large file.

Overview of the HTC ThunderBolt
This smartphone was Verizon's first with support for LTE, which gives it data transfer speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps for downloads and 2 to 5 Mbps upload speeds under real world conditions. This is significantly faster than Verizon's 3G network.

The ThunderBolt has a bar shape with a 4.3-inch WVGA (840 x 480) screen and a kickstand on the back, making it an unusually good option for watching mobile video. It also sports an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera as well as a front-facing one.

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 plus a 32 GB microSD card.