It's the RIM BlackBerry 7100i's feature set that really differentiates it from other BlackBerry devices. Unlike the rest of the 7100 series, the 7100i takes advantage of Nextel's network and walkie-talkie services so that you can make domestic and international push-to-talk calls. In addition, there's support for the Talkgroup service, which allows you to connect instantly with up to 100 other Nextel users who are on the same Fleet or Nextel network.
Other phone features include a robust address book that is limited only by the available memory; the RIM BlackBerry 7100i 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. As we noted earlier, the mobile is equipped with a speakerphone for hands-free calling. Alternatively, you can wirelessly connect to a Bluetooth headset, thanks to the integrated Bluetooth.
As always, e-mail remains at the forefront. The RIM BlackBerry 7100i is compatible with Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, and Novell Groupwise, so you can set up your device to receive corporate e-mail in real time with a little help from your IT department. You can also access up to 10 POP3/IMAP accounts and use the included Internet browser to check Web-based e-mail, such as Yahoo and Gmail. The 7100i is equipped with an attachment viewer that lets you open popular file formats, such as Word and Excel documents and JPEG images. It supports instant messaging, but unfortunately, you're limited to RIM's proprietary BlackBerry Messenger client. Alternatively, you can send and receive text and multimedia messages.
Other goodies include a WAP 2.0 Web browser, a calendar, a task list, a memo pad, an alarm clock, a calculator, a password keeper, and a BrickBreaker game. Also, the 7100i is GPS-enabled for emergency-based services.
We tested the dual-band (iDEN 800/900) RIM BlackBerry 7100i in the San Francisco area using Nextel's network, and call quality was excellent. We had no problems hearing our callers; they reported the same and said they couldn't even tell we were using a cell phone. Speakerphone quality was just as good, if not better, and the volume was more than adequate. We actually had to turn down the volume to the lowest level because we found it to be too loud. We also had no problems pairing the 7100i with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.The RIM BlackBerry 7100i is rated for 3 hours of talk time and up to 2.9 days of standby time. In our tests, the 7100i surpassed the rated talk time by 2 hours, 15 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the 7100i has a digital SAR rating of 0.91 watt per kilogram.
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