Research In Motion (RIM) introduced the BlackBerry Pearl 8130, the first BlackBerry Pearl smartphone to run on CDMA networks.

The new model comes packed with new features including communications enhancements, a striking new software interface, rich multimedia capabilities, built-in GPS and support for high-speed EV-DO networks.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 includes all of the features that have made BlackBerry smartphones popular among mobile users, including unrivaled email and messaging (SMS, IM, MMS), web browsing, organizer and more. The new smartphone also expands on its communications and multimedia features and presents the entire offering with a striking new software interface.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 features a compact design measuring 4.2” x 1.97” x .55” and weighing 3.38 oz. It provides an intuitive user experience through its trackball navigation system and RIM’s SureType keyboard system, which allows a narrower handset design while maintaining easy phone dialing and message typing.

The BlackBerry Browser is improved with a new “Page View” option that displays a full web page on the screen along with a magnifying glass that allows the user to accurately point and zoom in on a specific area of the web page. Users can also press and hold the trackball to toggle between the “Column View” (which presents the web page in a continuous column for easy reading and scrolling on the go) and the “Page View.” The new BlackBerry Browser also provides quicker access to Bookmarks and History, and supports the 3GPP RTSP Streaming protocol via EV-DO, so users can view streaming video from sites like m.youtube.com.

The device comes with a 2 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom and enhanced flash. The new camera also supports video capture in two resolutions: 240×180 or 176×144 for sharing via MMS.

The media player now allows users to create and edit playlists right on the handset. Alternatively, users can manage their media files from their PC with the Roxio Media Manager for BlackBerry. Roxio Photosuite 9 LE makes it easy to edit pictures and create photo albums. Pictures can also be cropped, rotated and straightened, redeye can be removed, and brightness, contrast and saturation levels can all be changed.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 supports the Bluetooth stereo audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP), and comes with a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack so users can plug in their preferred headphones or speakers. The handset also provides the convenience of an externally accessible microSD/SDHC memory card slot.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 includes built-in GPS to provide out-of-the-box support for location-based applications and services. BlackBerry Maps includes a local search capability that allows users to find local businesses, such as banks, hotels and restaurants, within a short driving distance. The local search feature in BlackBerry Maps was developed with support from Google.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 is supported on BlackBerry Internet Service, giving users access to up to 10 supported business or personal email accounts, as well as BlackBerry Enterprise Server, enabling advanced security and IT administration within IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise environments.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 will be available in two colors – silver and amethyst – from CDMA carriers in North America beginning in November 2007.