Verizon Thunderbolt update fixes random reboots, drops free mobile hotspot support

July 10, 2011 By Adam Rosenberg

Verizon's latest update for the HTC ThunderBolt fixes ongoing connectivity and functionality issues while stripping away the popular free Wi-Fi hotspot feature.

The latest update to HTC‘s ThunderBolt phone on Verizon is a study in cost/benefit analyses. On the one hand you’ve got some big fixes in the functionality department, with fewer dropped calls and an apparent end to the random reboots that have plagued some of the devices. On the other hand, free mobile Wi-Fi hotspots are no more.

The official update graphic from Verizon of course doesn’t mention anything about that second part, but ThunderBolt-owning commenters over at Android Police, which broke the news about the update prior to its release, confirm that the feature is no longer free to use. Some of those same commenters also complain of the update’s newly installed Verizon bloatware, though one points out that a bloatware-free custom update is floating around on the XDA developers forums. Not recommended unless you know what you’re doing of course, but it’s an option at least.

You could also simply accept the update and the bloatware that comes with it, and root your phone to get your precious free Wi-Fi hotspot functionality back. Unfortunately, even that process won’t fix the biggest glaring absence in the latest ThunderBolt update: an update to the Gingerbread version of Android. The smartphone is still running on the older Froyo OS, and the lack of an upgrade to the newer version is a big point of contention among ThunderBolt owners.

Showing 9 comments

STEVE at 8:02am 11th July 2011 bull, i have been trying to update my phone now since friday, it's monday and still no update here!!!!!!!
Dave Moehle at 1:41pm 11th July 2011 Sprint's 4g signal compared to LTE is like netzero vs fiber optic... No comparison ...and YES I have worked with both, and Sprint loses miserably on signal, strength and speed. Also, XDA developers has link to Das BAMF, which IS gingerbread 2.3.4 with sense 3.0. Been running on my tbolt for months now :-)
DaveM at 6:20am 11th July 2011 "won’t fix the biggest glaring absence in the latest ThunderBolt update: an update to the Gingerbread version" not true when discussing ROMs on XDA. Das BAMF is gingerbread 2.3.4 with sense 3.0 and it is friggin awesome!
1. Ian Bell at 3:08pm 11th July 2011 Not true.
Adam Brooks at 12:41pm 11th July 2011 Fixes random reboots, huh? Would it wor
Christopher D Hammock at 9:12am 11th July 2011 Sprint rules...Verizon drools. Hahaha
Luis Nok Outumuro at 5:58am 11th July 2011 Another reason I signed with Sprint last week.
Matt Chong at 5:44am 11th July 2011 Wtf really? Lamesauce
Jessica Trau at 5:42am 11th July 2011 Yet another example in "Big Company knows better then it's users". Makes me sick. Back in the day telecom companies were forced to do real investment in real upgrades, now they only update so they can continue to charge you more money.