Apple Still Interested in InterDigital's Patent Portfolio [Updated]

Last month, it was reported that Apple and Google were considering bidding to acquire mobile technology firm InterDigital, primarily for the firm's portfolio of over 8,800 patents and 9,700 pending patent applications. InterDigital had decided to explore potential strategic moves for itself, including potential sale of the company, and the company had drawn significant interest due to the current landscape of patent disputes in the mobile industry.


With Google on Monday announcing its intent to acquire Motorola Mobility, a move which will add 17,000 patents and another 7,500 pending patent applications to Google's portfolio, InterDigital's stock dropped 20% due to Google presumably dropping out of the bidding and general fears that the patent arms race might subside as the major players fill out their portfolios to keep each other at bay.

But Reuters reports that Apple is indeed still interested in InterDigital, and is considering making a bid to acquire the company. Other firms said to be interested in InterDigital include Nokia and Qualcomm.

Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Nokia (NOK1V.HE) and Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) are among several telecom and technology companies weighing bids for InterDigital Inc (IDCC.O), which specializes in wireless communications technologies, sources familiar with the situation said.

InterDigital is up for sale and is forging ahead with its auction despite a setback on Monday when Google Inc (GOOG.O), one of the key potential bidders, struck another deal.

The report notes that Google has not formally withdrawn from the InterDigital auction, although it is unclear whether it will participate in the bidding after committing $12.5 billion to the Motorola Mobility purchase.

Update: Reuters has posted an updated version of the article, noting that the auction of InterDigital has been postponed from next week until after Labor Day, which pushes it into early September at the earliest. Potential first-round bidders have reportedly been asking for more time to conduct due diligence on the company, accounting for the delay, but InterDigital is said to be hoping to accelerate the second round of the auction in order to keep moving forward in a timely manner.