A leaked roadmap from US Cellular showed up in July and outlined the carrier’s plans for the remainder of 2011. Near the end of that list, The Huawei Ascend II was pegged for a November release. That target was missed, but today the carrier finally announced the phone, with online orders starting in a week and it hitting retail locations in January.

The Ascend II is positioned as a budget-priced Android, and will be available for free on-contract after factoring in all eligible discounts and rebates.

From its 600MHz processor to its 3.5-inch HVGA display, it’s no surprise why US Cellular is letting this hardware go so cheaply. It might suffice as a backup device, or for someone unconcerned with playing the latest 3D games, but serious Android fans should steer clear. The Ascend II features a five-megapixel rear camera, a 1400mAh battery, and comes with a 2GB microSD card for storage.

This will mark the second home for the Ascend II in the States, which has already found a place in Cricket’s stable.

Source: MobileBurn