BlackBerry 7130e review (Verizon Wireless)

Verizon Wireless customers may have been feeling a bit neglected by Research in Motion, since every other major carrier features one of the sleek, consumer-friendly BlackBerry 7100-series models in its lineup: the BlackBerry 7100g for Cingular, the BlackBerry 7100i for Nextel, and the BlackBerry 7100t for T-Mobile. But it turns out that RIM loves Verizon after all. The two companies recently announced the RIM BlackBerry 7130e ($299.99), which has many of the same highlights found on the rest of the 7100 family and adds EV-DO support.

Like the rest of the BlackBerry 7100 series, the RIM BlackBerry 7130e sports a design that's more cell phone than PDA. It resembles an oversize candy bar phone (4.6 by 2.2 by 0.9 inches), but it is relatively light (4.7 ounces) and feels good in the hand. The charcoal-gray and black casing is also quite attractive.

The real star of the RIM BlackBerry 7130e, however, is the display. Showing off 65,536 colors, the screen boasts a 240x260-pixel resolution that produces supersharp text and images, as well as vibrant colors. It's one of the better displays we've seen to date on a BlackBerry, alongside that of the RIM BlackBerry 8700c. You can change the font size, the style, and the type; turn antialiasing on and off; and change the backlight time. Below the display are the Talk and End keys, as well as a soft key, which you can customize to open an application of your choice.

The RIM BlackBerry 7130e sports the same modified keyboard found on all of the 7100 series, with each key sharing two letters aided by RIM's SureType word-recognition technology. On the right spine, you'll find the familiar jog dial and Esc key, while the headset jack and the USB port are on the left side.

The RIM BlackBerry 7130e is well appointed with phone and data features. The phone book is limited only by the available memory; the device comes with 64MB of flash memory and 16MB of SRAM. For each contact, you can store up to eight numbers, as well as home and work addresses, a Web URL, notes, and more. There's a speakerphone onboard for hands-free calls, although you can't activate the speakerphone until you're on a call. Alternatively, you can wirelessly connect to a Bluetooth headset, thanks to the 7130e's integrated Bluetooth. Other goodies include a WAP 2.0 Web browser, a calendar, a task list, a memo pad, an alarm clock, and a calculator.