BlackBerry Press Release

O2 and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the first launch of the new BlackBerry® 7130g™ in the UK. The BlackBerry 7130g provides the perfect balance of performance, design and function for users who prefer traditional phone-style designs.

Building on the popularity of the BlackBerry 7100x™ from O2, the BlackBerry 7130g is a slim, lightweight handset that elegantly integrates some of the industry’s most advanced hardware and software in a stylish candy bar form factor, providing support for push-based email, phone, text messaging, web functionality, intranet access and organizer applications.*

With a wide range of wireless business applications available for BlackBerry, the BlackBerry 7130g is the ultimate mobile handset for professionals that need to view documents and access corporate data while away from the office.

The BlackBerry 7130g is ideal for mobile professionals who require an uncompromising voice, email and browsing experience in a slim and stylish handset with:

* Fast web browsing, application performance and attachment viewing
* Comprehensive phone features with intuitive call management capabilities such as smart dialing, conference calling, speed dial and call forwarding
* A bright, high-resolution color LCD screen that provides ample workspace for viewing email, web pages, applications and other information
* Intelligent auto-sensing technology that automatically adjusts the screen and keyboard lighting to provide an optimized view in outdoor, indoor and dark environments
* A powerful Intel® XScale® cellular processor with 64 MB flash memory and 16 MB SDRAM, providing the ability to store and run more enterprise, personal productivity and game applications
* Bluetooth® support and built-in speakerphone for hands-free operation
* Quad-band network support for international connectivity
* Easy-to-use SureTypeâ„¢ keyboard technology which combines phone and QWERTY keyboard layouts with intuitive software for quick and accurate dialing and typing

“We are delighted to be working with O2 to bring the BlackBerry 7130g to mobile professionals and consumers who want fast and efficient access to email, the Internet and other applications while on the go,” said Charmaine Eggberry, Vice President, EMEA, Research In Motion. “The launch of the BlackBerry 7130g demonstrates our continued commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. This elegant new handset combines industry leading hardware and software to deliver the distinctive BlackBerry experience in a sleek and stylish design.”

“The BlackBerry 7130g is a powerful addition to the range of popular BlackBerry devices already available through O2. Thanks to our strong relationship with RIM, we are pleased to be bringing this all-in-one handset to our customers first,” said Peter Rampling, Head of SME Marketing, O2. “Launching the new BlackBerry 7130g really cements O2’s position as a leader in voice and data services and we are confident that the enhanced features of this all-in-one handset will appeal to both the business and individual user.”

“Road Runner Express is a mobile business and I am constantly on the move. The BlackBerry 7130g enables me to manage my email, browse the Internet and access key business applications when I’m out of the office. With BlackBerry, our company is able to provide a more efficient service to customers and it has also definitely made our travel time far more productive,” said Jon Nowak, Director, Road Runner Express and trial customer of the BlackBerry 7130g. “The new device is a great design; it’s lightweight, easy-to-use, and serves well for both my lifestyle and business needs.”

For corporate customers, BlackBerry Enterprise Server™ software tightly integrates with Microsoft® Exchange, IBM Lotus® Domino® and Novell GroupWise® and works with existing enterprise systems to enable secure, push-based wireless access to email and other corporate data.

For individuals and smaller businesses, BlackBerry Internet Serviceâ„¢ allows users to access multiple business and personal email accounts without the need for server software (which includes support for most popular ISP email accounts).

*Subject to network coverage.

BlackBerry 7130g Reviews

Pocket-lint has a review of the BlackBerry 7130g and concludes, “this handset is about more than just email, and its comprehensive address book, large clear screen and basic but functional internet access make this a great business phone. … However, the lack of true smartphone functionality offered by the likes of O2’s XDA range may make serious business types think twice.” Link

Trusted Reviews reviews the BlackBerry 7130g and concludes, ” the 7130g is a great handset and easily the best that RIM has produced so far. I’ve been using it for the past few weeks and found it to be a great mobile companion, and not just for email. The dimensions and design make it a perfectly usable mobile phone, while features like the integrated Google Maps and fast web browsing make it extremely versatile. … If you’re worried about the reduced number of keys don’t be, SureType really is good and you’ll soon find yourself tapping out emails as fast as you would with a full QWERTY BlackBerry.” Link.

TechWorld reviews the BlackBery 7130g and writes, “For all its qualities, we’re not sure about this Blackberry. … It has a en excellent screen, good battery life, works quickly, and comes with the clever email integration that have made the Blackberry a household name. On the downside, there’s no memory expansion, no Wi-Fi, and no instant messaging application as standard. On balance, the keyboard is fine for a device in this class. Is it better than other smartphones? Hard to say.” Link.

PDAStreet has a review up of the BlackBerry 7130g and writes, “The automatically adjusting backlighting for LCD and keypad is a nice to have feature that BlackBerry introduced on some earlier models. It means you can see screen or keypad well in most lighting situations and it also saves battery power. Bottom line: I could see little to complain about in this product - except perhaps the keyad/keyboard combo. The 7130g is a little sleeker, a little more elegant than predecessors and it includes some important upgrades. If you like the slimmer form factor of the 71xx BlackBerries and don’t mind the keyboard, the 7130 offers an excellent upgrade path from the earlier products.”

Lordpercy has a review up of the BlackBerry 7130g and writes, “A month with the 7130g on review has seen us learn SureType and now master the dual key keypad and we do appreciate the reduction in size from the previous pocket calculator versions. It does make us wonder if we will ever see a normal sized phone with email as good as the blackberry, all this talk of convergence and we still wear a wannabe roly poly on our belts! The Blackberry 7130g is available on most UK networks and your company should have easy access to a good corporte deal should it wish you to join the Blackberry Borg.” Link.