Sprint today announced plans to offer the BlackBerry Pearl 8130, only a couple of weeks after fellow CDMA carrier Verizion Wireless said it would do the same.

The 8130 is the first BlackBerry Pearl model for CDMA operators like Sprint and Verizon. For the past year you could only find these smartphones with GSM operators like AT&T and T-Mobile.

Although Sprint said it would release the new BlackBerry next month, it did not say exactly when or for how much. Verizon is expected to introduce the 8130 on November 1st.

What we do know about this BlackBerry is it will support Sprint's EV-DO (Rev. O) 3G data network, far faster than the 2.5G EDGE technology used by Pearl's with the GSM carriers.

It'll also support the broadest range of Sprint Power Vision services ever offered on a BlackBerry, including Sprint Music Store, Sprint TV, OnDemand and Sprint Navigation. This last service is sure to make good use of the 8130's integrated GPS (global positioning system) technology, a first for a Pearl model.

The Pearl 8130 measures 4.2 x 1.97 x .55 inches and weighs 3.4 ounces, slightly heaver than the GSM Pearl, the 8100, which only hits 3.1 ounces on the scale.

RIM says the Pearl 8130's battery last 9 days in standby to the 8100's 15 days and 220 minutes of talk time, the same as the GSM version.

As with the 8100 the 8130 sports a microSD expansion slot. It supports the SDHC variety of microSD card, which currently top out at 4GB and will someday reach 32GB. There's also 64MB of internal Flash memory.

For picture and video there's a 2 megapixel camera with what RIM is calling an enhanced flash. There's a 3.5mm stereo headset jack and support for Bluetooth stereo audio.

Verizon says it will carry the 8130 in silver. RIM is also making it available in amethyst. Sprint hasn't specified what color(s) it will offer the new BlackBerry in.