BlackBerry 7130e
Research in Motion has finally launched its first EV-DO enabled wireless email device, in the form of the BlackBerry 7130e.
The EV-DO cellular broadband connection allows the 7130e to download web pages and email attachments much faster than any of its predecessors, with mobile data bandwidth speeds of up to 773 kbps.
Design-wise, this device is small and compact, with a small keypad that can be used for easy text entry, courtesy of SureType technology.
A bright, 65,000-color display with 320×240 screen resolution is great for viewing pictures or surfing the web. It does drain battery life, however, as does the speedy connection, allowing for a skimpy talk time of just 3.3 hours.
One other weak point is the lack of universal instant messaging capability. It is only possible to chat with other BlackBerry users, through the pre-installed BlackBerry Messenger application.
A convenient feature that many laptop users will appreciate is the 7130e’s ability to function as a wireless data modem, for web surfing, email, and instant messaging on your notebook computer. Unlimited data from Verizon Wireless is a little pricey at $44.99/month, but can be well worth it for frequent business traveler.
In terms of technical specs, this handheld has a very generous 64MB of integrated flash memory, double the amount offered by most BlackBerry devices, as well as 16MB of SRAM. RIM won’t say much about the 7130e’s processor, but it performs almost as well as the Intel XScale chip used in the BlackBerry 8700.