HTC has officially launched its latest Blackberry-esque handset – Snap, which features a design strikingly similar to that of an HTC phone details of which leaked last month.

HTC's Snap: the phone formerly known as 'Maple'

It was rumoured during March that HTC would launch a phone, codenamed 'Maple', at the Cellular Telephone Industries Association trade fair, which kicks off today in Las Vegas.

Maple was also named in a document leaked during January that claimed to show HTC’s entire 2009 handset line-up.

HTC today claimed Snap is designed to “deliver everything customers need... without overwhelming them with things they don’t”. So, it’s a fully-featured yet easy-to-use smartphone, apparently.

3G-enabled and equipped with a 2Mp camera

Although Snap has a Qwerty keypad with “extra-large domed keys”, the phone also features an “Inner Circle” button. This allows users to bring emails from a preselected group of people to the top of their inbox so that they can be dealt with quickly.

Running on Windows Mobile 6.1, Snap can connect to the web over 3G and features an integrated 2Mp camera.

The phone is 12mm thick and sports a talk time of just under nine hours.

HTC’s Snap will be available during Q2, but a priced hasn’t been released yet. ®