HTC's Snap smartphone is now available for Sprint Nextel customers, and it's designed to keep mobile professionals connected on the go.

The slim handset has a BlackBerry-like form factor with a 2.4-inch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard on the face. The Snap is powered by Windows Mobile 6.1, and it will come preloaded with Pocket Office in order to let users view Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.

The Snap can remotely synchronize calendars with a Microsoft Exchange server, and it can receive push e-mail on the go from corporate accounts, as well as messages from Web-based providers like Gmail and Yahoo Mail. In order to help users handle the deluge of e-mails, the Snap has an "Inner Circle" button that opens a filtered in-box that only shows messages from predetermined contacts.

Users will be able to surf the Web with the integrated Wi-Fi, or using Sprint's EV-DO 3G network. The handset also will have Bluetooth, built-in GPS that can be used with Sprint's navigation services, and a microSD slot that can be used to expand the memory. HTC's smartphone also should be a capable multimedia device, as the mobile version of Windows Media Player can handle various types of audio and video files.

The handset is available from Best Buy's Web site for the unsubsidized price of $519.99 without a contract. Sprint said it will be available through its stores June 21 for $149 after rebates and a new two-year contract. The third-largest U.S. carrier said it intentionally staggered the launch in order to accommodate for this week's debut of the Palm Pre smartphone.

Smartphones can boost a workforce's productivity, but they also can bring up multiple questions about security. InformationWeek analyzed how to get a handle on locking down data when it's on the move, and the report can be downloaded here (registration required).