Samsung Droid Charge Release Date Scheduled for May 3 Or Later [Following Launch Delay & 4G LTE Service Issues, Verizon’s Droid Charge Is Rumored to Hit Stores Next Week]

Posted on TFTS by Chris Smith on Saturday, 30. April 2011 under: Mobile/Cell Phones

The Samsung Droid Charge is Verizon’s second 4G LTE Android smartphone, following the HTC Thunderbolt. It’s also the most expensive one, and, just like its LTE predecessor, this baby was also delayed, although the Charge’s delay was made public after the official launch of the phone.

Verizon blamed everything on “unexpected delays” although it’s probably more than clear that the 4G LTE network issues Verizon had to face in the recent past were the real reason for this decision. After all how could one start selling a phone whose main feature is LTE without having any LTE support so people can see it in action?

The Droid Charge was supposed to be launched last week, and once Verizon postponed it, it never announced new availability dates for this Android device. Luckily there’s a new rumor circling the web that says the Droid Charge will be available in-store on May 2, or at least that’s when stores will get their Droid Charge inventory. So the phone will be sold thereafter, or starting with May 3. As you can see in the image below, “this phone cannot be sold prior to Tuesday 5/3 (a “do not sell” flag has been put in place at Costco).”

While this leak sounds more than genuine, we’re still waiting to hear about it officially from Verizon, since a new press release would be in order to re-announce the in-store availability of the Droid Charge. We’ll also be very interested to follow the sales performance of this LTE handset, considering its high price, even when subsidized, which makes it the most expensive Android smartphone in the USA, and, puts it right on par with the 32GB iPhone 4, a smartphone also priced at $299.99 on contract, but one that doesn’t come with LTE capabilities yet.

Anyone buying this baby next week?

Source

J.D.
It is very interesting that both of the 4g phones Verizon has either released or so far failed to release have evidently had problems of one sort or another. Unfortunately Verizon has not been forthcoming in the phone or 4g system problems. How is this supposed to instill confidence in their customers and convince them to buy into these new phones and 4g system enough to sign a 2 year contract for services they may or may not be able to deliver.