Quick news from around the Web.
@FierceWireless: RT@allthingsd: Smartphone Design Takes Center Stage in Barcelona -by @inafried Article | Follow@FierceWireless
> LG faces a range of challenges in its bid to improve its smartphone sales. Article (sub. req.)
> ZTE and Intel will team for chips. Release
> Google has too much control over China's smartphone industry, the country's technology ministry said in a white paper. Article
> Qualcomm plans to increase its share repurchase. Article
> Huawei holds more than 30,240 approved patents. Article
> The German government will use BlackBerry 10. Article
> Asustek will launch a new smartphone. Article (sub. req.)
> Google's Motorola Mobility hired former Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki to help it reinvigorate sales. Article
Mobile Content News
> Amazon is rolling out its Mobile Ads API beta, enabling third-party developers to integrate display advertising into their Android applications and games. Article
> Twitter is discontinuing its TweetDeck clients for Apple's iOS, Google's Android and Adobe AIR, focusing its mobile efforts on its flagship Twitter for iPhone and Twitter for Android apps. Article
Mobile Developer News
> 2012 was a huge year in terms of venture capital deals for mobile, topping out at $6.85 billion across 990 different mobile deals, according to a detailed report on the subject by Rutberg & Company. Article
> Apple's $100 million settlement over kids' use of IAPs sparks online outrage. Article
> Salesforce.com shows how in-app customer service expectations will escalate. Editor's Corner
And finally… The iPhone could have been named the "TriPod." Article