AT&T and Nokia have announced the availability of the Nokia Surge, a handset that comes with some interesting features designed especially for social networking and keeping touch with friends and family.

The Nokia Surge will be available in AT&T stores on July 17. The handset offers 3G connectivity so that users can stay connected via IM, text or email, sending multimedia messages, AT&T Video Share or updating and connecting to their favorite social networks.

Nokia Surge comes with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and offers Symbian S60 multi-tasking capabilities, internet browsing with Flash support and allows users to post messages, images, videos and comments to websites like Facebook with the pre-installed JuiceCaster application.

Additionally, the handset comes with a 2 megapixel camera with 4X digital zoom, AT&T Navigator, Mobile Music, Video Share and the aforementioned JuiceCaster.

"Launching at 79.99 USD with a complete email solution, downloadable applications and full HTML browser with Flash support, Nokia Surge hits the sweet spot between a quick messaging phone and a smartphone because of its low-price and strong feature set," said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.

The Nokia Surge will be available through select AT&T retail locations for $79.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a mail-in rebate. Customers can pay $129.99 and after mail-in rebate receive $50 AT&T Promotion Card. Two-year agreement for wireless voice plan of $39.99 a month or higher and data plan of $30 per month or more for rebate.