Pictures of Verizon HTC Thunderbolt surface online

Smartphone enthusiasts were abuzz on Tuesday as pictures of the HTC Thunderbolt 4G were leaked online. A dozen images of the Andoid handset, which is Verizon branded, appeared on the blog Droid Life, giving fans a sneak peak at the yet-to-be-released device.

Verizon will officially unveil their latest innovation at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 6 in Las Vegas. Students at colleges and universities throughout the country will be hanging on every news report that comes out of the CES, which is an annual showcaseSmartphone enthusiasts were abuzz on Tuesday as pictures of the HTC Thunderbolt 4G were leaked online. A dozen images of the Andoid handset, which is Verizon branded, appeared on the blog Droid Life, giving fans a sneak peak at the yet-to-be-released device of the latest products that will soon hit the market.

Smartphones, in particular, are popular among individuals who are receiving their college education. According to a study by the University of Colorado School of Journalism and Mass Communication, approximately 53 percent of mobile-phone users on U.S. campuses own a smartphone, compared to 47 percent who own a feature phone. Researchers classified a smartphone as a mobile device that offers advanced capabilities, such as Web access, e-mail and applications that are run by third parties.

The team of researchers also questioned college students about their smartphone use. Approximately 93 percent of respondents said that they use their device while riding in a bus, train or car, while 82 percent said they utilize it for school-related tasks, such as accessing information about college courses. About 77 percent said they use their smartphones when they first wake up in the morning, while 72 percent use it before they go to bed.

For students who are busy balancing college classes and social activities, most individuals use their smartphones to receive news updates. The University of Colorado survey found that 84 percent of students seek out breaking news information through their phone, while 82 percent said they check the weather forecast. About 45 percent look for business and technology updates, and about 44 percent search for sports news on their smartphones.

According to The Daily Princetonian, scholars at Princeton University have developed smartphone applications that are designed specifically for college students. Earlier this year, individuals who attend the Ivy League school developed Fountainhop and Scoop features for smartphone users on campus. These apps provide students with the latest happenings, such as parties, study breaks and impromptu campus events, according to the news provider.

The media outlet reported that Fountainhop was initially developed by students at Stanford University, and it has since been adopted at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley.