Technology heavyweights mull bidding for 8,800-patents holder InterDigital: report
18 Aug 2011
Apple, Nokia and Qualcomm are among several technology companies mulling a bid for wireless developer and owner of around 8,800 patents InterDigital Inc, Reuters yesterday reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.
The auction of Pennsylvania-based InterDigital, which is expected to attract technology heavyweights to beef up their patent portfolios, will be postponed from next week to after 5 September, its sources told the news agency.
Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Google has been holding talks with InterDigital, whose patents are mostly related to transmission of wireless data, cancellation of noise interference during phone calls and other technologies for use in mobile phones and networks. (See: Google eyes patents owner InterDigital Inc: report)
Although Google has not formally withdrawn from the auction, it is unclear whether the internet giant will bid for the company, Reuters said.
InterDigital, whose current market value is around $3.1 billion, expects to fetch a price that not only reflects the value of its patents, but the long-term recurring revenue from its licensing patents.
It is highly unlikely that Google will now be seriously interested in buying InterDigital after it proposed this week to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion to bag the cell phone maker's trove of more than 17,000 patents on phone technology. (See: Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion)
