RIM BlackBerry 7100i (Sprint)

Reviewed on 6/2/06   

Sprint Nextel is helping itself to another slice of BlackBerry pie with the addition of RIM's BlackBerry 7100i. The first of the 7100 series to make its debut on Nextel's iDEN network, the 7100i's design and feature set is similar to that of its siblings; it has a slim form factor, a great display, and a quasi-QWERTY keyboard with SureType technology. Yet, it also offers some new tricks--most notably support for Nextel's walkie-talkie services--that when coupled with the BlackBerry's push e-mail technology makes the 7100i a great device for on-the-go professionals. Plus, with a QWERTY keyboard, the 7100i is easier to use than the Nextel i930 by Motorola. Finally, at $199.99 after rebates, the BlackBerry 7100i is a good deal.

As mentioned earlier, the styling of the RIM BlackBerry 7100i doesn't stray far from that of the other models in the series, most closely resembling the BlackBerry 7100g. At 4.7 by 2.3 by 0.9 inches and 4.2 ounces, the 7100i will make for a tight fit in a pants pocket, but Nextel ships the device with a belt holster. And ladies, the handset shouldn't take up too much room in your bag. The external antenna does add an extra 0.75 inch of bulk, though. Overall, the mobile is comfortable to hold in the hand and up to the ear, but the plastic casing feels a bit cheap.

The RIM BlackBerry 7100's 2.25-inch screen displays 65,536 colors with a 240x260-pixel resolution, producing sharp text and bright images. The screen washes out when viewed in direct sunlight, but we like that you can change the size, the type, and the style of font, as well as the backlight time and the brightness. Below the display, you'll find a customizable shortcut button flanked by the Talk and End keys.

All phone numbers and text are entered through the RIM BlackBerry 7100i's modified QWERTY keyboard, which features two letters per key instead of one; the numerals also share space with the 10 buttons that occupy the center of the keyboard. RIM redesigned the keyboard in this manner in order to give the 7100i's a smaller and more phonelike form factor. If you've used a full QWERTY BlackBerry in the past, this new layout may take some adjustment, but we got the hang of it after a day or two. In addition, the 7100i features SureType technology to make text composition easier. This functionality acts like predictive-text entry; after you input the first couple of letters of a word, the device then presents you with a list of possible words from which you can select.

On the left side of the RIM BlackBerry 7100i, there's a 2.5mm headset jack, a USB port, and a rubber walkie-talkie button, while the BlackBerry's signature scrollwheel and escape button are on the right. To use the speakerphone, there's an activation switch on top, alongside the power on/off button. The speaker itself is on the back. Aside from the belt holster, the BlackBerry 7100i comes with a wired headset, a USB cable, an AC charger, and reference material.

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.

• 6.1/10

  Average user rating from 44 users

  Good
• Write your own review How would you rate this product?
• 9/10 Spectacular

  October 25, 2005

  by frostypauly (see profile)

  "If you like your BlackBerry, but LOVE your telephone, this is the phone for..." Read more >>

• 9/10 Spectacular

  October 25, 2005

  by Striggity (see profile)

  "Excellent Phone/PDA" Read more >>

• 9/10 Spectacular

  October 19, 2005

  by s2h531 (see profile)

  "First-time Blackberry User" Read more >>

• Write your own review See all 44 user opinions >>

Tips for RIM BlackBerry 7100i (Sprint)

Forums for RIM BlackBerry 7100i (Sprint)