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Variations on Research In Motion's (RIM) first smartphone to resemble an actual mobile handset, the BlackBerry 7100, is offered by several wireless carriers around the world—T-Mobile in the United States, Rogers Wireless in Canada, and Vodafone in Europe and Oceana (Australian and New Zealand).

Although these handsets differ slightly physically, they all deliver the same basic functions and design, nixing the traditional BlackBerry boxy design and thumb-keyboard for a sleeker, smaller, and more up-to-date look and feel. It is RIM's bid for the worldwide consumer market.

Now comes rumors that a second carrier in the U.S., Cingular Wireless, will offer the 7100. According to a posting on BlackBerryForums.com, the largest mobile operator in North America (after its merger with AT&T Wireless) will begin selling the 7100g later this month.

A picture indicates the look of the 7100g (see top image) may fall somewhere between the Vodafone's 7100v and T-Mobile's 7100t (both pictured bellow). Other than that, it should offer the same functionality as the other members of the 7100 series.

Vodafone 7100v

T-Mobile 7100t

BlackBerry 7100 Series
As with other BlackBerries, these smartphones deliver voice, e-mail, instant messaging, HTML Web browsing and organizer capabilities. They do this, however, in a form factor that is more like a traditional mobile handset.

With these handhelds, RIM replaced the BlackBerry thumb-keyboard with one that uniquely merges a keypad and a keyboard. For text entry, each key supports two letters, while predictive text software called SureType helps you accurately input text-so when you press a key the 7100t knows which of the two supported letters you mean to use.

The software's word database encompasses approximately 35,000 words plus the user's address book. As with your word processor's spell-checker, you can add more words to it as well.

Since the 7100 series mobile handsets are quad-band GSM/GPRSs you can use the smartphones when traveling anywhere in the United States, Europe and Asia, as well as many other parts of the world.

Other features include Bluetooth for use with wireless headsets and other peripherals, a bright color screen, and 32MB of RAM. Unfortunately, there is no way to add more memory because the handhelds do not integrate a memory card slot like most other smartphones.

Of course, the devices can connect to RIM's renowned enterprise software, BlackBerry Enterprise Server, for access to corporate e-mail and data.