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Longtime GSM user, both AT&T and T-Mobile. I have a terminal aversion to CDMA but LTE looks intriguing. I use, roughly, between 13-20GB per month. Voice usage is almost nonexistent. I do text frequently.
I've been eyeballing a fellow coworkers Thunderbolt. (I'm also enititled to a 20% discount through work.) My questions:
Are you guys happy with your Thunderbolts? Like the screen? Does the LTE SIM work like GSM, just find another LTE phone pop and go? (I phone hop like mad!) LTE coverage in Ohio is actually pretty good. Your ETF is $350? (Once the AT&T&T mereger is done 12-16 months down the road I may switch back. Any general thoughts to add?
I'm happy to listen to anyone!!
I was a longtime ATT user (and Cingular before that, THOSE were the days) before switching for the TBolt. I enjoy the screen, better than my old Blackberry and since I mainly use texting/email on it instead of video, I actually prefer the screen to a SAMOLED. In theory, LTE SIM switching should work, but there hasn't been another LTE VZW device to test that with (another week and we'll know). And yes, ETF is $350 now, just like ATT.
Out of curiosity, why would you switch back soon down the road? ATT's (even if they acquire T-Mobile) "4G" technology is so far behind LTE that it's laughable. That's why I switched, ATT spent too long dawdling around not really improving their network infrastructure, at least where I live.
I use about 120 to 80 Gb monthly now that this is my only net connection. The best thing about it is the price monthly. I'm paying for a data only plan which is 50 a month unlimited before my 25 percent discount. For texting I use Google voice app and I have GV forwarded to a sipgate #, running SIPdroid on the tbolt to get my calls. Result is unlimited calls text and internet tethering for 37 bucks a month. Ya the phone ain't cheap upfront but it really is like having a cable modem in your pocket. I love it
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
I just got the T-bolt and I am impressed. Although I have not tasted any 4G yet, it is a very solid phone. The battery life is not great, but that is to be expected of such a device. Getting a bigger battery seems to be the only option. I love the screen and cannot wait to watch movies on it! Waiting for a netflix app
bmstrong said:
Longtime GSM user, both AT&T and T-Mobile. I have a terminal aversion to CDMA but LTE looks intriguing. I use, roughly, between 13-20GB per month. Voice usage is almost nonexistent. I do text frequently.
I've been eyeballing a fellow coworkers Thunderbolt. (I'm also enititled to a 20% discount through work.) My questions:
Are you guys happy with your Thunderbolts? Like the screen? Does the LTE SIM work like GSM, just find another LTE phone pop and go? (I phone hop like mad!) LTE coverage in Ohio is actually pretty good. Your ETF is $350? (Once the AT&T&T mereger is done 12-16 months down the road I may switch back. Any general thoughts to add?
I'm happy to listen to anyone!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The LTE SIM does not work like GSM just yet. Verizon has it on a white list. They have to approve the device it will be in. They say that they are adding approved devices all the time but not sure which devices have been added. I think they are pushing more for the LTE SIM to be taken out of your phone and you put it in a camcorder, DSLR camera and make the devices shoot live feeds. I had read this on howard forums. I would love for HTC have it where you could custom build your phone and just pop in the LTE sim card. Just think pick your own screen, ram, internal memory, speaker, etc.
howardforums.com/showthread.php/1703825-Thunderbolt-and-ALL-future-4G-VZW-devices-require-a-UICC-SIM-card.
warning wall of text
I remember hating verizon for crippling the bluetooth on my v710? swearing never to go back. I've been GSM since cingular dropped tdma and I switched my 3360 and got a 6620. Then winmo starting with an htc wizard up until an HD2 that I converted to android. Wife has gone from thinking I'm nuts to giving up on my smartphone crack habit. Been mostly cingular/AT&T with a few bad romances with Tmo where I think "this time the reception will be better" (last time cause I really wanted the HD2). Then I walk out of the lumber yard and get 4 voicemails all saying generally wtf are you??
Then along comes the thunderbolt. I'm currently carrying an tmo HD2 running android and cause it's better than my fuze... a hacked beyond belief iphone on att. A friend hands me his verizon phone and I walk through my 7 story concrete/glass office building with the verizon, at&t, and tmo phone all showing signal strength. Tmo fades early as expected. There's a few times where verizon gets beat but most of the time it's got a 5 db advantage.
So a saleslady at the verizon store loans her thunderbolt and I try it in a fringe area (my house). Coverage is better with the thunderbolt and while at&t speedtests better and seems to load faster initially, verizon never hiccups and pauses like at&t and loads every single webpage before at&t completes.
So then the pro's cons.
I have 7 gsm phones all unlocked that I can bring up either att or tmo on but my att contract is up and my tmo is just a $5/mo family line that I just use text on.
unlimited data. I dont have 4g here but it's a chance to grandfather in on unlimited high speed data. Previous calls to at&t complaining about having 4 iphone non-tech unlimited users on my plan where I'm the geek yet I'm the only one without unlim data fall on deaf ears. I may not use the 5 gig I've got but it's a pain having to worry.
Verizon? Really? After laughing at people who were forced to use get it now to get their pictures off their phone? After swearing never to return when they crippled the firmware on the v710? And CDMA?
But the lure of unlimited data gets me to try a thunderbolt. I get in on a 1 year contract and I too get a healthy discount.
Fast forward 3 weeks. Rooted & flashed a non vzw rom after 4 days. 14 day return day came in went without a thought. The iphone is in my desk and the tmo hd2 will probably get turned into a winmo phone when I get time just to see if it's more than an xbox facebook extension. I find there are many times I havent even bothered to turn on wifi since web pages load without pauses, hiccups or waiting. Was going to hold out for a dual core but I've got no complaints. The screen colors seem much more vibrant than my hd2. I got the extended battery but even with not being able to put the phone down be it texting or internet I still last all day on the regular battery. Besides, by now I've got a usb charger about every 5 feet at home.
very tough call and it took a lot to get past going back to verizon and cdma but I'm glad I did. Sorry if I stepped on any toes windows phone, iphone, tmo fanboys, and grammar nazi's. Just MHO. Got a microcell to help not drop calls and still do on att. Verizon goes without extra help and doesnt drop calls. Texts are quick but break at 160chars. I use the phone to monitor several production unix machines so quick sms was imperative.
Drop me a line if you have other q's. I'm generally a lurker but always up for helping. Feel your pain in deciding..
Well this is my first smartphone so I don't have any comparison. But I love it. Love the screen and it's 4.3" of manlyness. I really never understood why people have such animosity for CDMA vs GSM. Yes I get the whole SIM card thing, but is that the only reason?
For me, it was the problem of no data while on a call. Never again AT&T, never again.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Longtime GSM user, both AT&T and T-Mobile. I have a terminal aversion to CDMA but LTE looks intriguing. I use, roughly, between 13-20GB per month. Voice usage is almost nonexistent. I do text frequently.
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Click to collapse
Just curious, but what do you have against CDMA other than you cant port to other carriers as easy as GSM? I found CDMA voice is generally better than GSM. The ThunderBolt still uses voice for CDMA so other than it being fast for data over what is considered GSM, it's still pretty much a CDMA phone in the sense it's locked to verizon (probably more so since you cant take it to other CMDA carriers either).
ATT will be going to LTE sometime next year as well though, so eventually when phones are using LTE for voice and data, you would be able to switch between carriers (assuming they both support the same frequency of LTE, there's 2 of them) and different phones on the same carrier
I love my tbolt. I went from a D1 to the TB, and was a little scared of leaving all the great ROMs, kernels and support on my D1 (was running CM7 nightlies with the deprimed kernel on droidforums and that thing ran more amazing than it ever did) but made the jump to get in on 4G before a rumored switch to tiered plans. And I couldn't be happier, I do miss CM and prime's kernels, but the devs have been putting out some great things on the TB. Adrynalyne and thatdudebutch have an amazing ROM with das BAMF 1.5 remix and I'm running imoseyon's lean xtreme kernel. And since development is young on this phone, I can only see it getting better
I wish I could recomend this phone over my Droid x but the battery life is so pitiful in comparison. Don't get me wrong I love the thunderbolt and having 4g is nice (Seattle) but having to be tethered to the wall on charger almost constantly is just annoying. My Droid x would go all day and had better outdoor visibility. The auto brightness on the tbolt is wack. The new blur on gingerbread also puts sense to shame. Onevgreat thing about the tbolt is the camera is really good and very fast. While the Droid x takes great shots it slow to snap them.
In short I'd recomend the Droid x over the thunderbolt.
My upgrade is in 4 days, and im thinking of the thunderbolt, i have no 4g in my area, they say by the holidays maybe.
That being said i love my incredible but want a bigger screen, is this work upgrading or should i wait until the next 4g phones come out. I only want an HTC phone.
yareally said:
ATT will be going to LTE sometime next year as well though, so eventually when phones are using LTE for voice and data, you would be able to switch between carriers (assuming they both support the same frequency of LTE, there's 2 of them) and different phones on the same carrier
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I have heard that AT&T will *not* use the same bands as Verizon. Here is an article stating something less general, but indicative of this discrepancy:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...ice-wont-roam-verizons-lte-network/2010-10-26
jakaro said:
My upgrade is in 4 days, and im thinking of the thunderbolt, i have no 4g in my area, they say by the holidays maybe.
That being said i love my incredible but want a bigger screen, is this work upgrading or should i wait until the next 4g phones come out. I only want an HTC phone.
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Click to collapse
Personally, I think it's worth it. The thing's fast, smooth, and powerful (insert joke here). It works well on 3g, and when 4g comes to you (or you travel to a 4g market), you will DEFINITELY not regret it!
I would consider waiting on galaxy 2. That thing looks like a complete beast.
Not you fat Jesus
Legacystar said:
I wish I could recomend this phone over my Droid x but the battery life is so pitiful in comparison. Don't get me wrong I love the thunderbolt and having 4g is nice (Seattle) but having to be tethered to the wall on charger almost constantly is just annoying. My Droid x would go all day and had better outdoor visibility. The auto brightness on the tbolt is wack. The new blur on gingerbread also puts sense to shame. Onevgreat thing about the tbolt is the camera is really good and very fast. While the Droid x takes great shots it slow to snap them.
In short I'd recomend the Droid x over the thunderbolt.
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Click to collapse
Get the extended battery my phone now lasts 30+ hours when my Droid X would be luck to last 15 even with liberty installed.
Sent from my Gingerbreaded Thunderbolt.
Im just curious to what dual core phones will be coming out by HTC. I am also worried about these random reboots.
One other thing, but how is the developer community on this phone, im sure its huge being the only 4gphone.
Edit: make that second on vzw
Since it's verizon a dual core htc is a year away lol
And samsung is samsung...
Thunderbolt «» das BAMF Remix
jakaro said:
One other thing, but how is the developer community on this phone, im sure its huge being the only 4gphone.
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The dev community here is freaking awesome. They've been busting ass to get stuff working, tweaked, and corrected. Great group of guys.
Alrighty then, anybody have the extended battery, how does it feel, i love mine on my incredible.
Well, my Incredible is up on Craigslist, if i sell it ill be on the thunderbolt!
I looked around some hands on videos of the Sensation and looked closely at the App Drawer... and did not see a Wifi Calling app.... maybe im wrong...
Anyone know if this device includes Wifi Calling?
i would guess that it will have it. In Barcelona earlier this year T-Mo stated it's commitment to wi-fi calling and that it planned on having it on all future smartphone devices.
yeah i would be pretty upset if it didn't have it since all the recent smartphones they've put out have this. I just got the feature added to my plan and im always in wifi areas, well i make alot of calls from home and with this i would rarely ever use my minutes.
Android 2.3 has integrated SIP call function in dailer. Otherwise, you can use free SIP software from market. You also can use GTalk for internet call.
Use Fring to make calls (video and voice). support conference call.
Yes the Sensation does in fact have WiFi Calling. I use it every day.
I was wondering if any of you can tell me if the wifi calling takes away from your plan minutes? I am hearing no from third parties and I am hearing yes directly from tmobile. Really thinking about switching to tmobile due to sprints horrible service where I recently moved to. It just might make sense to do it with this option.
Yes, With WiFi calling you use up your plans minutes.
thats dumb lol, using plan minutes when using wifi calling..wtf is the point!
thanks for the reply. That is pretty stupid. This would be a great option for those who don't have to best coverage and the extra option of not using minutes would make it over the top. Oh well, maybe I will get a airave from sprint and stay where I'm at.
I've heard that if you have a newer plan (not a grandfathered plan) with T-Mobile, they can add on free WiFi Calling which does not take away minutes from your plan.
Originally, and by default, it used to be that wifi calling deducted minutes from your regular plan... im not sure if the newer plans come with the wifi calling free plan.... but for me, since I already had a grandfathered plan, I just had to call Tmobile up, and request Free Wifi Calling, and then they enabled it, for free.
If you talk to tmobile customer support online or over the phone you can have a service added to your plan so that WiFi calling does not use your minutes. It will say "uses plan minutes" on your phone still but it actually will not.
EDIT: Haha caliber177 beat me to it!
SOB double post... whoops...
Here is what the wirefly website says. I know they are not tmobile but I'm just saying.
"WiFi Calling will allow you to make calls over a Wi-Fi network without deducting from your plan minutes. Android handsets will continue to display a message that indicates that calls will be deducted from plan minutes. However, if this feature is active, calls will be free and unlimited over Wi-Fi."
Capable device and Wi-Fi connection required. Wi-Fi calling decrements plan minutes. Except for UMA devices, device will not transition between Wi-Fi and the wireless network.
Thats what it says when you go to the wifi calling page on the t-mobile site! If you go to this link here http://smart-wi-fi.com/mobileHandsetsHTCSensation.php Its a UMA device.
I'm stoked to finally have cell service at my house. I doesn't bug me one bit having to use my minutes and Wifi calling is a great feature most carriers don't use.
I feel like people are picking this device apart under a microscope just to find things to complain about. Yes we all know s-off will be the day it really comes out to shine but in the mean time just enjoy the phone.
We all know that the Thunderbolt can talk and surf over 3G and 4G.. why doesnt Verizon promote this? This seems like it'd be a cool selling point since ATT constantly uses this as a knock against VZ's network.
Does talk and surf not work in all markets? Does Verizon not want to confuse owners of other phones? I cant see why they dont advertise this more..
i know right i rub it in peoples faces lol
It isn't quite up to Verizon standards. At least that was what was on the initial info material for the Thunderbolt. Seems to work fine the couple times I've tried it.
There have been creative differences on how to present the "Can you hear me now? Good.. Oh, and I just got your e-mail" tv commercials.
Plus only having 1 phone that can do it ATM might be a little premature gloating for the entire network.. Although yes I do it.
It would also advertise to most folks that aren't aware (the non-techies) that talk & data is not available on every other phone... It's a fine line. It's as if Verizon would admit that the lack of this feature is a problem that only 1 phone could resolve.
I'm guessing the marketing weenies took a hard look at this
just my $.02
bill102938 said:
It's as if Verizon would admit that the lack of this feature is a problem that only 1 phone could resolve.
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Technically that's the case because of the way the radios are used. The Thunderbolt could be the only one for a while capable of simultaneous voice & data over 3G.
I don't know many people who see that as a must have feature. Including friends who have ATT. Never seen anyone use it.
because AT&T iDouches need something to keep them feeling like they have the better phone/network..
verizon's just bein nice..and how would it look if they came along after all this time and advertised the one phone in the entire lineup that could do it?
There really isn't any point. LTE isn't large enough, only one phone out (as of now). And really how many times would you need to use it?
lippstuh said:
There really isn't any point. LTE isn't large enough, only one phone out (as of now). And really how many times would you need to use it?
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it works over 3g too dude
I use it at least once a day. Doesn't the Charge do it also? If so thats two phones and I believe all the future LTE phones will be able to do it.
LakerStar25 said:
I use it at least once a day. Doesn't the Charge do it also? If so thats two phones and I believe all the future LTE phones will be able to do it.
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It should do it when on LTE or Wifi but not necessarily 3G like the Thunderbolt. My understanding is that with the cpu and radio chips being made by Qualcomm, it was easier to get the voice and data working over 3G in addition to the other two.
Yeah I was over in one of the Charge forums and they were talking about how they could not talk and surf at the same time over 3G. The TBolt is definitely still unique in this regard.
As to why they don't push the issue in advertising, I agree that with only one device being able to do it over 3G, it's a little premature. Plus, they are trying to push 4G LTE and going back and touting 3G simultaneous data and voice would be taking a step back in some ways(especially when it's only one device).
When there are more LTE devices available I would expect to hear more about it's advantages, including voice+data.
this is a little bit off topic, is it just me or it seems to that there are no dual core phones with lte coming out? seem like the only one was the bionic and that got trashed
bogatyr said:
I don't know many people who see that as a must have feature. Including friends who have ATT. Never seen anyone use it.
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I always felt this was a useless feature too that att kept gloating about to make the pompous Iphone owners feel superior with their phones. I always would run into an iPhone user who would constantly compare his phone saying "can your phone do this.. can your phone do that".
I agree Verizon should hammer back that the tbolt can do that plus other things the iPhone can't. I think its worth while for Verizon to advertise who is superior now regardless if it is a useless feature.
you can talk and surf at the same time on the tbolt? haha i honestly did not know that. thanks for the tip!
I use it everyday many times... On conference calls, sending/receiving emails, looking things up, send maps links, etc. My crew calls for info, I can pull it up, countless things.
And yes, it works on both 4G and 3G. Always.
___
Sent from my HTC ThunderBolt 4G LTE.
I think AT&T tried to make it a bigger deal than it actually was.
I still have yet to use voice and data at the same time, even going back to my iPhone days.
They'll tout it once it becomes more common for the phones that Verizon has available. Since only one can do it now, they'd have to specifically focus on the Thunderbolt, and would have to say ONLY the Thunderbolt has that capability.
I too never saw the big deal of chatting on the phone and surfing the web at the same time, sure it's a cool feature, but for me personally I have the phone to my ear when I'm talking, and surfing would only be a distraction. I liked AT&T when I had them, but I've always hated the iPhone and detested the iPhone users that go out of their way to point out what it can do. Here's something for them, can it do 4G LTE? Yeah, didn't think so. Dual LED flash? Far more customization? No dice!
being able to take a phone call and use the navi is a huge plus... also looking up something on the web while on the phone is a great feature
My wife and I currently have 3G phones on an alltel plan, I was under the assumption, after a few talks with customer service, that I was unable to get a 4G phone on my alltel plan, but the verizon (store) rep just told me that I could...
We were going to get the incredible 2 because I want a FFC to video chat with my two young kids but now it seems I can get a 4G phone, but need to decide soon as they are about to go to tiered data plans...
So my question, how well does the video chat work on the Charge? Has anyone done it between two charges... is the picture pretty clear and sound insync?
And with the 4G off, can I easily get a day out of the battery (unlike my incredible I have)?
thanx for your help...
still trying to decide between the charge and the revolution, but leaning towards the Charge
There are not many mainstream video chat apps out there right now. Video chat should be coming to skype and google talk soon. Because of this I have yet to do any video chatting with my phone.
Obviously battery life varries greatly from user to user but I get at least 8 hours with everything on and a decent amount of usage (I don't place many phone calls though).
I've been seeing this becoming more n more popular . People dropping their carrier and just using there WiFi to connect there phone for INTERNET n such .Was just wondering if anyone here does this already and or has any good apps ideas or tips for doing this .
Thanx oh not that it matters much but i have a Motorola Droid 2 for this.
No reason it wouldn't work. I have a G1 iPhone and it still plays Pandora OK and Internet's etc.
Just took the old ATT sim out and tossed it.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
Cool ya I didn't think there'd be any probs to do it. I talked to my cuz n he only uses his phone when he's on wifi has a number for texting n everything. Also thru the same app he does this with if you try there adds or something he can rack up minutes to call people? Anyone hear of this at all. All I'd be worried bout is the internet and to still play the games
I used my Sprint HTC Touch Pro II for about a year on wifi only,before I got it ported to Boost.
No difference beteeen the two that I could tell.
Matt
It really depends on where you live and why you have a phone.
I considered this when leaving my Sprint contract but decided not to for what I think is a very important reason. Emergencies. What if something happens and I need to make a call and I'm not near WIFI ? What if I'm not near anything ? What if I can't wait to go hunt down a free WIFI spot before I need to make a call ? What if I or someone else is hurt and can't wait ?
To me, mobile web and ability to play games is a much smaller concern than personal safety.
My "dumbphone" saved me from bad situations by being able to make a phone call without having to walk for miles.
If I could live without mobile data, I would go for a pre-paid minutes SIM that allows you to at least connect to cell towers if you need it. There are emergencies where it's not appropriate to call 911, yet being able to call a friend or family member will save your sorry hide if you're able to.
Ultimately, I went with T-Mobile's 100 min/unlimited tex/5Gb data plan for $30/mo because it's pretty cool to be able to stream Netflix in-between my lab and other classes and to be able to use navigation if I'm lost or just need to know something without trying to find a 24/7 coffee shop with free wifi.
I've had good luck using Groove IP for phone calls, as long as you have a Google Voice account. After some echo cancelation tweaks, and putting up with an ever-so-slight lag, it was not much different than calling with a standard phone.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium