Intel has joined an all-star cast in what should be an exciting day of sitting around a table saying numbers
Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) has gotten approval from the Federal Trade Commission to join Monday's auction of Nortel Networks Ltd. patents, Reuters reported Friday morning.
It adds another big name and another direction of interest to the auction, which apparently drew so many buyers that Nortel put it off for a week.
Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), which also got FTC approval Friday, and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) have been the two most closely watched. Google wants the patents mostly for defensive purposes -- to avoid being sued -- but it seems obvious that either company's mobile platform would benefit from the patent stash.
Intel would be an interesting alternative, considering it offers chips to pretty much everyone in the mobile industry.
Other notable names known to be interested include Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC), BlackBerry and patent-holding company RPX Corp.
The patent auction is likely to be the last big move from Nortel, so maybe it's fitting that this might be the most dramatic of its selloffs. To help build the drama, here's a reverse-chronological recap of what's been going on:
Nortel Delays Patent Auction
Ericsson CEO: More Major M&A Possible
Upsetting Apple's IPR Cart
Euronews: Ericsson Eyes Nortel Patents
Patent Firm Wants In on Nortel Auction
Nortel Patent Auction Approved
RIM May Also Bid for Nortel Patents
Google Bids $900M for Nortel's Patents
Nortel Patents Sale's Pending
Fighting Over Nortel's Patents
— Craig Matsumoto, West Coast Editor, Light Reading
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