MetroPCS lays the TapouT smackdown on Huawei’s Ascend… gently

MetroPCS Introduces TapouT Special Edition Android Handset, Nationwide Tour with MMA’s Best Fighters

Custom Huawei Ascend brings the excitement of the cage to the palm of your hand with pre-loaded, exclusive TapouT training content and new TapouT application

DALLAS, March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — MetroPCS Communications, Inc., in partnership with SA Studios Global, today introduced the Huawei Ascend Sanctioned by TapouT, a different-edition handset designed together with Mixed Martial Arts (“MMA”) and lifestyle brand TapouT, an Authentic Brands Group company. The telephone might be available exclusively at MetroPCS stores and online in the following couple of weeks.

The Huawei Ascend Sanctioned by TapouT comes with two interchangeable backs and is pre-loaded with a whole content suite featuring TapouT static and live wallpapers, TapouT Virtual Training center videos and a brand new TapouT application exclusively available at the phone.

Finished in high gloss black with matte black casing, the Huawei Ascend Sanctioned by TapouT features the long-lasting TapouT logo emblazoned at the back of both covers, one in tonal black and the alternative in dark grey with the cage graphic frequently seen on TapouT merchandise. The handset is powered by Android™ 2.2 (Froyo), includes a large 3.5 inch touchscreen and a three.2 megapixel auto-focus camera and camcorder, and springs with a 2GB microSD™ memory card.

The Huawei Ascend Sanctioned by TapouT is accessible with MetroPCS’ smartphone service plans at $50 and $60 a month, including all applicable taxes and regulatory fees. Both plans offer unlimited talk, text and Web services for approximately half the price of other carriers’ smartphone plans today, in addition to Metro USA(SM) nationwide coverage covering greater than 90 percent of the U.S. population.

“The TapouT brand is admired by MMA fans around the globe, and we’re proud to supply consumers a singular and personalized handset that carries the energy and radical design for which TapouT is understood,” said Phil R. Terry, senior vp of corporate marketing for MetroPCS. “Special edition handsets are one of many ways in which we’re giving consumers the devices, services and lines which are a super fit with their lifestyles and interests.”

TapouT is the foremost recognizable brand within the MMA world. Founded in 1997 by Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr., Dan “Punkass” Caldwell and Tim “SkySkrape” Katz in California, the 3 made t-shirts and sold them at local gyms and MMA events. The logo rapidly became the de-facto brand worn by MMA fans during the U.S. and now has global distribution sponsoring quite a lot of top athletes including Ryan Bader and Jake Shields.

“Once we started TapouT, the goal was to create a brand that captured the real essence and lifestyle of MMA fans. Today, the cell phone is the biggest piece of technology that we own, and is an extension of the landlord’s personality. TapouT fans now have a handset that reflects their lifestyle and the newest technology that you can buy. The price that MetroPCS offers consumers is unmatched within the industry and was an obvious choice for us,” said Caldwell, co-founding father of TapouT.

Cross-Country Tour

To celebrate the launch, Punkass and SkySkrape will travel around the country at the TapouT bus to go to MetroPCS stores and host Without equal Fighter™ watching parties. an entire schedule of locations and dates are located at www.metropcs.com/TapouT. Additionally, customers who purchase the telephone can be capable of redeem 20 percent off gear and apparel at www.TapouT.com and enter to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to look at the finale of Without equal Fighter™ with Punkass and SkySkrape.