HTC prices its Thunderbolt at $699 without a contract

The HTC ThunderBolt - the first LTE phone in the Verizon line-up - has been held back from release for quite some time, and we reported to you that the reasons for this are said to be its terrible battery life and reception problems.

Now another date for this much-anticipated handset is available - March 4 - and there is official information how much this phone is going to cost if you buy it directly from the Taiwanese manufacturer.

Although it's now removed, we have a screenshot showing that the HTC ThunderBolt will have a $699 price without a contract when it's available for sale, but it's important to know this may change eventually.

If this is its final price, though, it will make the HTC ThunderBolt one of the most expensive smartphones, which also explains its expected high price with a contract - it is rumoured to be $249.99.

Is this is a fair price for the new HTC flagship smartphone?