7100g Design - 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.
What's in the Box - BlackBerry 7100g handset,
international travel charger, USB cable, battery, holster,
hands-free headset, SIM card, BlackBerry Desktop software.