Huawei plans flagship phone release for summer
In addition to sponsoring a pop concert tour, the smartphone-maker will launch a "major" handset in the U.S.
As part of a massive consumer push to bring awareness to its brand (involving the Jonas Brothers, no less), Huawei announced this week that it will release a marquee smartphone in the U.S. this summer.
The company isn't sharing its exact time frame or the nature of the hardware in question, but I'd put my money on one of its most aggressive Android designs, either the gigantic 6.1-inch Huawei Ascend Mate, or the Ascend D2, with an enormous 4,050mAh battery -- both of which debuted in January at CES.
Also a contender for the flagship spot is the Ascend P2, shown off at Mobile World Congress this past February. The P2 is notable for its sensitive HD display, its tuxedo good looks, and a 13-megapixel camera.
For the past several years, Huawei has slowly, methodically beenboring its way into the U.S. consciousness, generally offering lower-cost models with no-contract carriers, though the company is starting to see some pickup with tier-one providers as well.
Swearing that it understands the human element is one of Huawei's more recent strategies for getting its name out. Even more important is the company's ability to deliver handsets that can deliver top-notch hardware performance.
I'd love to see the Ascend Mate or D2 especially arrive with a Big Four U.S. carrier, especially T-Mobile, where a low enough off-contract sticker price might turn some heads. Competition will be fierce, especially if the oversize Mate goes head-to-head against Samsung's Galaxy Note 2.
In a few short months, we'll find out just how well Huawei is prepared for battle.