T-Mobile's done well with its line of Sidekick smartphones over the years, so it shouldn't come as surprise that the carrier's got yet another (and more powerful) version of what's often been referred to as the 'BlackBerry' for the young and hip on the way.

The site hiptop3.com has posted details about a new Sidekick model called (not very creatively) the Sidekick LX 2009, an apparent follow up to the Sidekick LX. The LX 2009 will sport a number of advanced features over the earlier model.

This includes a bump up to a 854 x 480 pixel (WVGA) display that measures 3.2 inches and a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash. There's also a microSD slot for memory expansion up to 8GB.

It also supports T-Mobile's 3G cellular-wireless data network and adds GPS. The latter will support location-based services, such as Microsoft live local search and maps and turn by turn directions—Redmond now owns Danger, the creator of the hiptop OS all Sidekick models have run on.

While the Sidekicks of the past are known for its messaging capabilities, this one adds the ability to sync mob-e-mail with Microsoft Exchange and Outlook, clearly showing the influence of Microsoft, which may be attempting to expand the Sidekick's demographic into business and the enterprise.

As with past Sidekicks, the LX 2009 will sport a full QWERTY thumb-keyboard. As you can see in the picture, it appears the LX 2009 will sport a slimmer design than the previous LX model. It looks like its screen will slide up like the Sidekick Slide model from early last year, actually.

Additoinal features include support for Twitter, MySpace and Facebook, popular social-networking apps for the Sidekick's usual target market.

Microsoft completed its purchase of Danger back in April of last year. Whereas Microsoft found most of the success for its Windows Mobile smartphone platform with mobile professionals and the enterprise, the Sidekick's been popular with consumers, especially with younger demographics and the less technically savvy. That's a market Microsoft is keen to exploit, in part through the expertise obtained with Danger.

Danger was absorbed into Microsoft's Premium Mobile Experiences team, a group within Mobile Communications Business of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft.

Anyone who's owned or used a Sidekick knows its all about messaging and interaction with others. The messaging-centric (e.g. IM, texting, e-mail) Sidekick has, with each succeeding generation over the last five years, gained more features, while becoming thinner and more compact along the way.

Last years' LX and Slide models were no exceptions. It looks like this year's Sidekick LX 2009 won't be either.