First SureType Models (7100 Series)
RIM expanded the market by introducing the first BlackBerry models without a discrete QWERTY keyboard, in the candybar form factor. They developed a predictive text technology called SureType with a QWERTY-like layout, using two keys per button. By using only two letters per button, rather than three letters per button as in T9 using ten-digit keypads, predictive text accuracy could be improved dramatically. The use of a QWERTY-like layout took advantage of people's memory of the computer keyboard, since each button was roughly relative to each key. At the same time, the size of the BlackBerry could be dramatically reduced, as keyboards only needed to be 5-buttons wide rather than 10-buttons wide. These BlackBerries became more popular with the mass market as they became similarly sized to competing consumer-market cellphones.
These models were among the first BlackBerry models to be aggressively marketed to consumers, rather than to businesses. RIM continued to manufacture QWERTY models, to give the market a choice between the traditional QWERTY thumb keyboard, and the compressed SureType keyboard.
| Family | Model | Photo | Screen | Network | Notes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Charm" | 7100t | large 240x260 colour | 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS | with integrated phone with speakerphone, Bluetooth | Airtel, Vodafone, T-Mobile | |
| 7105t | ||||||
| 7100r | ||||||
| 7100v | ||||||
| 7100g | ||||||
| 7100x | O2 (UK), O2 (Ireland) | |||||
| 7100i | iDEN | with integrated phone with speakerphone, Bluetooth, Push-to-talk, GPS, 64MB | Nextel and Telus and SouthernLINC | |||
| 7130 | 7130e | large 240x260 colour | 800/1900 MHz CDMA2000 1x and EV-DO | with integrated phone with speakerphone, Bluetooth | Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Telus, Alltel, and Bell Mobility | |
| 7130c | 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE | AT&T | ||||
| 7130g | O2 (UK), O2 (Ireland), Airtel | |||||
| 7130v | Vodafone |
Read more about this topic: List Of Black Berry Products
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