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Confirming rumors, Cingular Wireless announced today it would soon start offering the BlackBerry 7100g, a member of Research In Motion's hot new 7100 series of smartphones.

Cingular isn't the first mobile operator to carry the 7100g; it is already available in Hong Kong. It is also the second high-profile handset, after the palmOne Treo 650, Cingular has delivered in as many weeks.

Although many Cingular customers will welcome this addition to the company's portfolio, T-Mobile already sells the 7100t, Rogers Wireless the 7100r, and Vodafone the 7100v, slight variations on the 7100 series customized for each operator.

So how come there's no 7100c for Cingular Wireless, the largest mobile operator in the United States? (Cingular isn't alone in not getting its own personal 7100 model, U.K. operator O2 offers the 7100x, a particularly sleek looking 7100 series variation.)

The addition of the 7100g extends Cingular's already extensive BlackBerry portfolio to a more consumer-friendly handset that delivers the same push-based e-mail and personal information management capabilities as traditional BlackBerry handhelds.

Cingular executive director of mobile professional solutions Michael Woodward declares, "Cingular Wireless is the leading BlackBerry provider and the addition of this breakthrough solution further strengthens our portfolio of BlackBerry products."

With the 7100 series, 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 7100 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. SureType support various languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese and Swedish.

Cingular expects the 7100g's lack of a keyboard and the more traditional handset form factor to expands its BlackBerry users base.

Woodward asserts, "The introduction of the BlackBerry 7100g opens up the `BlackBerry experience' to a much wider business audience that considers voice as their primary wireless application but also desires the robust data features that BlackBerry provides."

Since the 7100 series mobile handsets are quad-band (850/900/1800/1900) GSM/GPRS, you can use the smartphones when traveling anywhere in the United States, Europe, and Asia, as well as many other parts of the world. Cingular counts 170 countries for voice communications and over 75 countries when accessing e-mail, calendaring and other data applications.

Additional 7100 series 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 devices do not integrate a memory card slot like many other smartphones.

Of course, the smartphones can connect to RIM's renowned enterprise software, BlackBerry Enterprise Server, for access to corporate e-mail and data, plus its Internet-based personal e-mail solution.

You will be able to buy the BlackBerry 7100g through Cingular's Business Markets Group sales account team or online as of February 14th. It'll cost $250 after rebates with a two-year service contract.

Monthly data plans start at $40 per month for four megabytes and $50 for unlimited usage. Those who travel abroad can pay another $20 for Cingular's Unlimited International Data Roaming plan. Remember, the cost of these data plans are on to of your monthly voice bill.

For more information, see Review: BlackBerry 7100 Series – RIM’s BlackBerry Alternative.