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Sprint is now selling the BlackBerry Curve 8350i, the latest RIM smartphone for the Nextel iDEN push-to-talk network. The ruggedized BlackBerry supports Group Connect, which allows users to instantly setup group conversations with up to 20 other participants.

You can pick up the Curve 8350i online now for $149.99 with a two-year contract and after a mail-in rebate. It should hit stores next month.

Like other BlackBerry Curves, the BlackBerry Curve 8350i is multimedia-friendly—picture, video and music—and it sports an improved HTML browser, push e-mail and messaging capabilities, as well as built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.

Some additional features include:

2 Megapixel Digital Camera – with 5x digital zoom, flash and video recording*

DataViz Documents to Go – preloaded software makes it easy to edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents directly on the smartphone

Internal Antenna

Speakerphone – optimized for Direct Connect

Removable/Rechargeable 1400 mAH Battery

Expandable Memory through microSD memory card slot

Bluetooth – version 2.0 with support for (A2DP) stereo Bluetooth

Full QWERTY keyboard

Trackball navigation

"Because of its unique combination of push-to-talk capabilities and several other advanced features, the BlackBerry Curve 8350i smartphone is likely to appeal to both individual consumers and business customers," said David Chamberlain, principal analyst with analyst firm In-Stat. "The BlackBerry Curve 8350i smartphone can also address the needs of several industries such as construction, field services, transportation and manufacturing."

The Curve 8350i measures 4.4 x 2.4 x .7 inches and weighs 4.7 ounces.