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Huawei plans to tackle US market with huge new smartphone

Chinese smartphone maker Huawei apparently hasn't lost its desire for the U.S. smartphone market yet.

The company, which recently said that it would abandon its U.S. operations amid accusations of spying, announced its Ascend Mate 2 4G smartphone at a press event Monday at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The new device, which runs on Android 4.3, has some unique features. They include its large, 6.1-inch display screen, a battery life of about two days and the ability to serve as a backup charger for another device, such as an e-reader.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, name dropped AT&T as a potential carrier for the device since it is compatible with its network. That would be quite a feat, given that companies have been reluctant in the past to carry Huawei's premium devices.

Richard Yu of Huawei unveils the Ascend Mate 2 4G at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas.Joe Klamar | AFP | Getty Images

CNBC reached out to AT&T, but it declined to comment.

Huawei has been trying to reinvent itself as a company that can compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung, but it has been an uphill battle, especially in the U.S.

(Read more: Cybersecurity Questioned After UK Huawei Deal)

Apple, Samsung and LG take the top spots for smartphone vendors in the U.S., while Huawei has the No. 8 spot, according to the latest data from market research firm Strategy Analytics.

But Huawei's international story is different.

The company is the third-largest seller of smartphones worldwide, according to some analysts, and it plans a major global expansion.

(Read more: Watch out, Apple! Here come Chinese smartphones)

Executive Vice President Colin Giles said Monday that the company aims to ship 80 million smartphones this year, compared with 52 million in 2013. And it intends for the Ascend Mate 2 4G to play a part in that growth, at least in the U.S.

(Read more: US senators warn on Huawei deal with South Korea)

The price and exact release date were not disclosed, but the product is expected to launch in the U.S. later this year.

By CNBC's Cadie Thompson. Follow her on Twitter @CadieThompson

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