MetroPCS follows Cricket's lead, launches Huawei's Ascend budget Android phone

Huawei's really starting to make a splash in the American smartphone market, breaking into the Big Four with the launch of the T-Mobile Comet not long ago -- but it's the budget regionals where these guys might have a chance to dominate. MetroPCS has taken a cue from archrival Cricket in launching Huawei's Ascend today, offering a 3.5-inch HVGA display, 3.2 megapixel camera, and microSD memory expansion to 16GB atop Android 2.1. The $179 they're asking seems a bit steep for the specs until you remember that MetroPCS offers its hardware contract-free -- and it'll save you a dime or two over the carrier's name-brand Android offering, the Optimus M from LG. It's available today; follow the break for the full press release.