BlackBerry 7130e offers a speed boost Verizon Wireless Inc. is giving a speed boost to its Research In Motion Ltd. BlackBerry device lineup, rolling out on Monday the BlackBerry 7130e, which can use the U.S. mobile operator’s BroadbandAccess Internet service.Verizon already offers the BlackBerry 7250 for its NationalAccess service. The 7130e is the first BlackBerry sold by Verizon that can take advantage of BroadbandAccess, which offers average data speeds of 400M bps (bits per second) to 700M bps, according to Verizon. The network runs on EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized), a 3G (third-generation) version of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). BroadbandAccess is available in 171 U.S. metropolitan areas.The 7130e is a phone as well as a BlackBerry, with data capabilities including RIM’s push e-mail system as well as Web browsing and corporate applications. It’s the size of a phone and uses a combined QWERTY keyboard and numerical phone keypad, according to Verizon. It can also be connected to a notebook PC as a data modem. When users leave a BroadbandAccess coverage area, the 7130e will run on the slower NationalAccess service. Bell Canada, in RIM’s native country, earlier this month rolled out the 7130e for its EV-DO network. Sprint Nextel Corp., the other provider of EV-DO in the U.S., doesn’t yet offer a BlackBerry that uses EV-DO. However, all the phone/personal digital assistant devices Sprint offers from now on will be able to use its EV-DO network, said spokeswoman Amy Schiska-Lombard.The 7130e carries a list price of US$299.99 with a two-year service contract. Prices for enterprise volume purchases may vary, said Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney. It is available now through Verizon’s business channels and online. The device will hit Verizon Wireless and Circuit City retail stores Dec. 1. The BroadbandAccess Connect service is available for $15 per month with any Verizon Wireless BlackBerry voice and unlimited data plan, which are priced starting at $79.99 per month. Broadband Access Connect costs $30 per month with a BlackBerry unlimited data-only plan, which is priced from $49.99.REFERENCES: Bell Canada unveils fast mobile data network, ITWorldCanada.com, Nov. 2, 2005 Technology Industry