HTC Thunderbolt Gingerbread upgrade: Gentlemen, start your engines...

By JR Raphael (@jr_raphael)

If you've got an HTC Thunderbolt, get ready: All signs suggest Gingerbread is finally headed your way.

HTC's been promising a September rollout of Android 2.3 for the Thunderbolt since last month. Now, two separate developments point to the release actually being on the brink of beginning.

First and foremost, Verizon updated its official HTC Thunderbolt Software Update page to include details about the phone's Gingerbread upgrade. Typically, this happens a few days before a rollout commences; often, the info appears early in the week and the rollout starts toward the week's end.

Second, someone from HTC's official support team sent out a tweet this week assuring a user the upgrade was "still scheduled for this month." The last day of September is Friday; you do the math.

In addition to the standard Android 2.3 features (see my Android Gingerbread FAQ for details), the Thunderbolt's upgrade includes a handful of device-specific fixes and enhancements. Among them: new customizable dock icons, better data connectivity, better Bluetooth audio quality, a more reliable Camera app, and a patch for SMS misrouting problems. 

So keep your eyes open, gang: With any luck, this thing should be hitting anytime now.

UPDATE: As of Tuesday night, the upgrade is officially rolling out! The rollout may take a few weeks to reach everyone, but you can start the download manually by going to the "Software Update" section of your phone's main settings. 

And remember, you can keep tabs on the Gingerbread status for any device at my Android 2.3 upgrade list. It's always kept up-to-date with the latest info available.

JR Raphael writes about smartphones and other tasty technology. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.

Article copyright 2011 JR Raphael. All rights reserved.