• Reuters, Thursday, August 18, 2011 12:44 PM

In what many see as yet another patent grab, Apple and Google are reportedly in the running for wireless telecommunications specialist InterDigital. Up against Nokia, Qualcomm, and other bidders, the Web giants are perceived to be primarily interested in InterDigital's patent portfolio.

That said, "Key potential bidder Google Inc has not formally withdrawn from the auction but it is unclear whether the Internet leader will bid for the company," Reuters reports, citing a source.

Earlier this week, Google already offered the sum of $12.5 billion for Motorola Mobility and its cache of patents. Still, "Google's presence in the auction would be crucial to how much InterDigital could fetch," notes Reuters.

"The problem InterDigital has is that Elvis has left the building. He's got his date," Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Modoff says in reference to Google.

InterDigital is said to have some 8,800 patents -- including key 3G and 4G/LTE patents -- which some analysts say is the best portfolio on the market.

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