Design

Click the image to get a closer look at the 7100g's features.

Design-wise, the 7100g is a departure from the form factor of previous BlackBerry models. This BlackBerry is far more phone-like, and RIM's engineers have managed to fit a QWERTY keyboard onto the handset's slim frame. Each button on the keypad shares two letters and the unit automatically determines which letter is the intended one based on what it predicts you are trying to spell. This unique predictive text technology, known as SureType, enables the 7100g's diminutive size. SureType also learns the words you use most often, further enhancing your typing speed.

The 7100g sports a large 240 x 260 screen with 65,000 colors-- plenty of real estate to view your emails, web browser content, messaging sessions and attachments. The venerable BlackBerry jog dial is located on the right side of the unit for quick scrolling through menus and emails. A speakerphone is housed in the top portion of the rear of the handset, just above the removable battery door. There's also a standard 2.5mm headset jack that can be used with the included headset.

Calling Features
All the calling capabilities folks have come to expect in a wireless phone are present in the 7100g. As mentioned, the unit's speakerphone makes it easy to use the device handsfree, or if you prefer, use a wireless headset via the 7100g's built-in Bluetooth capability. A vibrating alert, speed dial, and a contacts list/address book that is limited only by the unit's 32 MB of internal memory, are also included. Any of the phone's 32 included polyphonic ringtones can be used to create caller-specific ringers so you can know who's calling without having to look at the handset. More ringtones are available from Cingular's MEdia mobile web service.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
While the 7100g is a different kind of BlackBerry, it's still delivers the legendary BlackBerry email experience. With Cingular's BlackBerry service plans, you can receive emails instantaneously from up to 10 email accounts (personal and enterprise). With BlackBerry push technology, you don't need to retrieve your email. Instead, BlackBerry devices are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, allowing you to be discreetly notified as new email arrives. Support is also built-in for viewing email attachments (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, and PDF formats).

If your company has BlackBerry Enterprise Server installed, you can take advantage of the power of wireless calendar synchronization. Your calendar events are exchanged wirelessly and automatically so that your desktop calendar and BlackBerry device calendar are synchronized. All your Outlook meeting requests, changes, and updates are instantaneously synchronized instantaneously with your desktop. Make meeting requests, invite new attendees and more, all on your 7100g. Users without Enterprise Server support can manually sync with their desktop calendars and contacts via Bluetooth or USB using the included BlackBerry Desktop software.

Use the 7100g's Web browser to access the Internet from the palm of your hand. Browse Web sites, get up-to-date stock quotes, read the latest news, check weather reports and more. Instant messaging and wireless messaging are also built into the 7100g. The unit supports AOL, Yahoo and ICQ instant messaging, as well as SMS text messaging. MMS messages can be received and forwarded.

The 7100g ships with a number of tools, including a calculator with a unit converter and a to-do list. The unit supports Java application and game downloads (available via the t-zones service). One game, BrickBreaker, is included.

Vital Statistics
The RIM BlackBerry 7100g weighs 4.30 ounces and measures 4.70 x 2.30 x 0.8 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of digital talk time, and up to 8 days of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.