Sprint promises Windows Phone 8 devices 'soon'; HTC's Q4 profits half of what was expected

Quick news from around the Web.

@FierceWireless: Sightings so far of executives/celebrities at #2013CES: Dish Network CEO Joe Clayton and casino magnate Steve Wynn. More to come?? --PG #CES | Follow@FierceWireless

> China's TCL Communications is bringing its Alcatel One Touch brand to the United States via a trio of Android phones, the One Touch Idol Ultra, the One Touch Idol and the One Touch Scribe HD. Article

> Nvidia took the wraps off its long-awaited Tegra 4 application processor for mobile devices, with CEO Jen-Hsun Huang calling it the "fastest mobile application processor in the world today," and boasting of its performance capabilities. Speaking at a press conference at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show here, Huang called Tegra 4 "nearly the worst kept secret," referring to recent reports that the new silicon was coming. Article

> HTC recorded fourth-quarter profits half of what had been expected. Article

> Sprint Nextel said its Windows Phone 8 are "coming soon." Article

> The Sony Xperia Z appears to be on tap for a CES unveiling. Article

> LG Electronics promised to increase corporate spending to tackle rivals. Article

> Huawei looks to be preparing the announcement of the Ascend D2. Article

> Sequans Communications' LTE chip has been certified by Verizon Wireless. Release

> Google's patent settlement with the Federal Trade Commission probably won't bring an end to its patent lawsuits. Article

> The electronics industry will reportedly grow 4 percent this year. Article

> AT&T Mobility said it will sell the Pantech Discover Android smartphone, which features an HD display and 12-megapixel camera, for $49.99 with a service contract. Article

> Lenovo appears to be preparing the K900 smartphone with an Intel processor. Article

Mobile Content News

> Apple announced it has paid out more than $7 billion to its iOS developer partners. Article

> Facebook's mobile social networking application is installed on 70 percent of all smartphones running Apple's iOS but just 40 percent of devices powered by Google's Android, according to data from Enders Analysis' Benedict Evans. Article

> Google has vowed to eliminate a redirect preventing Windows Phone device owners from accessing the Google Maps website via Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. Article

Broadband Wireless News

> Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) intends to reintroduce his location privacy protection bill to the full Senate this year. Article

> The United States needs a private public-safety network. Industry Voices

European Wireless News

> Alcatel-Lucent's shares jumped on the news that Credit Suisse had upped its "underperform" rating to "neutral." Article

> Is LTE a threat to Wi-Fi's future? Editor's Corner

And finally… Android shows up in Lenovo PCs. Article