HTC ThunderBolt to have simultaneous voice and data, hotspot capabilities at launch

By on Jan 31, 2011 at 2:38 PM
mobile January 31, 2011

Planning to get yourself an HTC ThunderBolt from Verizon Wireless? Good news: a Verizon branded training document, bearing today’s date, indicates that the LTE handset will ship with hotspot-creation capabilities and the ability to simultaneously use voice and data while on Verizon’s 3G network. The memo does have a rather ominous statement that reads:

There is functionality in the Thunderbolt that allows simultaneous voice and data while on the VZW 3G network, however, we cannot promise the experience will be one that is consistent with our brand. As a result, do not reference this functionality as a benefit during your conversations with customers.

Not sure what that means, but we’ll take our chances. A similar training document surfaced last week and stated that the device would not be shipping with the popular hotspot feature. It is unclear whether the prior document was erroneous or if a technical hurdle was overcome in the past few days.

There you have it, simultaneous voice and data and the ability to create your very own mobile hotspot. Did this just seal the ThunderBolt-deal for anyone?Read

Tags:
, , , , , , , ,
50 Comments

Related Articles

  • Anonymous

    Absolutely!

    • Chris

      Could have sworn I read this on another site like a week ago.

  • dreedy.android

    Nice device but I would like to see some more info leak out on the Droid Incredible 2/HD that had leaked pics last week. Sorry all you dual core fans but no Moto crap for me.

    • Tim242

      Exactly! FroYo nor Gingerbread support dual core. The dual core phones are shipping with FroYo. To the dual core fans, I say good luck waiting on a phone version of Honeycomb.

  • http://www.vgchartz.com SuperChunk

    Nope. Not multi-core.

    I’ll happily keep my Fascinate until the end of year approaches and I have multi-core, mega pixel front and back cameras, Android 2.3+, Sony’s PlayStation Suite, 4″+ screen, and unless Samsung has improved their upgrade policy, it’ll be HTC branded.

    • Thomas Gomez

      Mobile multi-core is still in its infancy and neither practical nor useful. Cool feature? Yes. Valid reason to turn down a phone right now? No, not even close. It will however eat more battery, yay. By the time it’s really supported and useful, It’ll be time for a new phone anyway and there will be many options. Right now it’s a gimmick. It needs AT LEAST another year.

      • Anonymous

        Your wrong on all accounts.. Dual-cores at launch will be faster and use less battery than single cores, after optimization they will be faster and more efficient.. The LG Optimus line are a good example of the benefits of a dual core setup, they smoke any other midrange phone out..

      • Joel

        Thomas wake up. You do know a dual core processors drain less juice than a single core right? You aren’t stuck in the 1990s are you?

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Alexander-Thacker/597252629 John Alexander Thacker

        “You do know a dual core processors drain less juice than a single core right?”

        This is a meaningless statement without context. Holding what equal?
        A dual core processor with both cores running at the same clock speed as a single core processor takes more energy. However, a dual core processor with similar benchmark speeds to a single core processor has both cores running at a slower clock speed than the single core processor, and often does take less energy.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t get it. How has this not been possible with past 3G devices, yet it is available on a 4G device, but in 3G areas? I can understand if it was only possible in 4G areas, because then the Data could be using LTE and the Voice could be using normal 3G voice. Can we have any explanation from someone that is more familiar with how this stuff works please?

    • TheRealBeesley

      For starters… Voice doesnt even use 3G.

      • Anonymous

        it uses like 1xrtt or something right? I haven’t had a Verizon phone in along time

    • Tim242

      It is called SVDO. It is a tech to allow it on EVDO. Verizon has long been rumored to be deploying it. The ThunderBolt will be the first phone to be able to use it.

    • DBEvans

      Some time ago, Verizon had announced upgrading the 3G service to SV-DO (my understanding is this is done by swapping out a card at each tower to upgrade the software) – and SV-DO allows for simultaneous voice and data over the existing network if the phone is equipped to utilize it. But then no more word from what I saw. I had guessed that they had dropped that upgrade in favor of only doing the 4G LTE upgrade. But when I first saw the simultanous over 3G information mentioned last week, I remembered this upgrade rumor.

      I’m guessing that’s how it’s being done – that Verizon had quietly continued with their SV-DO upgrade, and this is the first device to be equipped to use it … the statement “we cannot promise the experience will be one that is consistent with our brand” may simply be code for saying that the official launch of this feature is scheduled for later (maybe with the 3G hardware refresh expected later this year?) and as a result they haven’t yet prepared training materials nor trained their help desk staff on any potential issues. Hopefully, if I’m right, an official launch will be later this year.

      • http://twitter.com/VDubb722 Vic Webb

        There is no “upgrade.” SVDO is just a hard hammer approach to fix the issue by incorporating two antennas in the device (one for voice and one for data). There is no “behind-the-scenes network upgrade.”

    • Guest123

      Vic Webb is right. There have been no upgrades to Verizon’s network/towers. This is possible on the Thunderbolt due strictly to the phone’s technology. Further, not all future phones will have this capability on 3G; only those with SVDO.

  • Chris

    But, but, but, the commenters on BGR told me this wasn’t possible. WHo really needs to do this anyway?

  • http://twitter.com/Davva360 David Moore

    I find this interesting. It can do simultaneous voice and data on 3G which has never been possible on Verizons CDMA network before. I would love to know if this is a change that Verizon have made or whether it is a feature unique to this phone. Also an interesting disclaimer in there from Verizon. Maybe it was always possible but Verizon didn’t want to allow it to avoid additional strain on their network?

    • Tim242

      It’s called SVDO. Hardly anyone uses the feature. It won’t be putting a strain on the network.

  • Jake

    That’s old news. Everyone knew that like a week ago. Come on BGR get with it

    • http://www.bgr.com Andrew Munchbach

      A week ago, the device wasn’t shipping with hotspot capabilities… that is new :)

      • Jake

        Not true. Anyone familiar with Verizon would know that all new devices will have mobile hotspot capabilities.

      • Anonymous

        That’s why its news genius, it’s confirming the hotspot for people who don’t work at VZW. There were credible rumors saying that it wouldn’t have it which is substantiated by the need of a clarifying memo being released.

      • DBEvans

        There’s a document claimed to be a Verizon created comparison of several phones that claimed it would not be on the Thunderbolt at launch … you can view it if you google for: verizon internal comparison thunderbolt

  • Jerald

    I saw on hetpedia that it wount have skype video call at release, is this true?

  • Anonymous

    There’s my EVOOOO; can’t wait!

    Signed,
    Sick of this crappy Droid X that [ALMOST] ‘Does’ !!

  • Mykpfsu77

    I think the consistent with their brand part only means that the Bolt will be the only phone in Verizon’s inventory capable of simultaneous voice and data on 3G. Don’t advertise it less people think other phones are capable of the same feat.

    • Tim242

      That’s what I was thinking. At least they are not trying to confuse like att.

  • Tim242

    The deal has been sealed! I just sold my Evo, and joined a family plan on Verizon. I’m using the Incredible until this ThunderBolt strikes!

    • Anonymous

      Traitor! /s

      • Tim242

        I know : ( I feel guilty. I held on to Sprint for 7 years. Lte is being
        tested here in Little Rock now, launching soon. Who knows when Wimax will
        ever get here. Plus, on a family plan, I just have to pay $30 for data. My
        bill got cut by $50. Just too much to resist. I will still be rooting for
        Sprint though.

  • BruthaBeige

    Maybe it means the voice will be going over data as voip??? In that sense, I can understand if they say “experience may not be consistent with out brand” because it may not be high quality or “drop free”.

    • Tim242

      It’s SVDO. Not consistent with their brand means it will be the only phone with the capability. They don’t want to confuse people into thinking all their phones can do it.

      • rob

        qualcomm chip

      • Tim242

        And…

  • EngineerGA

    Wait, is the charging port on the bottom when it’s on the kickstand (meaning I can’t charge it while watching videos on the kickstand)? Video drains the battery on my Incredible at an unreal pace, even with the screen brightness really low. I can’t imagine making a phone with a kickstand and the charge port so it can’t be used at the same time. Do they not have engineers/designers that actually use this type of phone?

  • Bringit

    Sooo cooooll! I can talk on the phone about Hannah while I watch justin bieber videos all day long!!!! Droidddd rullllessss!

  • MikeMan

    The hot spot was a MUST for me, without it, I would have waited for the Moto 4G this summer.

    • Tim242

      Are you going to pay an extra $20 on top of the $30 for 2GB of tethering data? Root, and have unlimited for free!

  • jason6g

    to clarify, the voice & data on 3g is ONLY available in certain areas that have enhanced “3g” service, to my knowledge no areas are live yet, but the updated 3g is to support the ip structure of the lte design. so yes the handset will support this at launch, however no markets are available to date. i wish verizon would help with the price a bit, so far 250 with no mir seems to be what its launching at, cant complain for what seems to be one of the nicest lte capable phones they plan to launch (nicest as in user friendly and appealing to the masses)

    • Guest123

      Wrong. SVDO is not a network-side technology. Simultaneous voice/data will be available anywhere with 3G if the phone is capable.

  • Johny

    someone needs to leak verizon’s 4G pricing for phones already. is there going to be a $10 premium similar to sprint’s 4G service? or will pricing remain the same? this will be the main selling point for me as i’m pretty happy with paying $60 a month for service.

    • Tim242

      The $10 fee is/was never for 4G! Sprint is now charging it for all smartphones.

  • Smokinf350

    Trying to decide if I should return my Droid inc and get this. My friend in Verizon call center said launching on Feb. 14. And she also said iPhone 4 was supposed to do simitanious voice and data. I didn’t believe her on that one was she had mentioned that thunderbolt would do it too last week so, that one prediction she got right. Maybe so on other. But she has played with both and said it changed her mind about iPhone says thunderbolt is a straight beast.

    • Tim242

      I just sold my Evo. I joined a family plan on Verizon. I got the Incredible at Best Buy for free. Come Feb.14, I’m trading it for the ThunderBolt! Lte is being tested here, launching in a few months. I’m so excited : )

  • Jwhite

    if you wanted an evo you should have gotten one last summer-atrix baby!!!!!!!

    • rob

      Have you read the overheating problems of the Bionic/Atrix yet? Might want to rethink Motorola…I am personally going to wait till this summer to decide which is best…quad cores coming out this christmas too.

  • rob

    If I remember correctly the SVDO is actually the chip from Qualcomm and not the service provider updating anything. LTE is GSM so that will naturally allow data and voice to work at the same time.

    • Bozman

      It’s called VoRA (voice over Rev A)

  • http://twitter.com/Steelers7510 Ty Carlson

    HA! Now AT&T won’t have anything on Verizon!

blog comments powered by Disqus