Apple, Nokia and Qualcomm eye wireless telecommunications specialist InterDigital

NEW YORK: Apple, Nokia and Qualcomm are among several technology companies pondering bids for InterDigital, sources familiar with the situation said.

The auction of the wireless telecommunications specialist - expected to be heavily contested as giant tech companies fight to shore up patent portfolios - will be postponed from next week until after Labor Day, the sources said.

Shares in InterDigital, which has a market value of about $3 billion, leaped as much as 12.2% on the news. But it quickly backtracked and was up $4.38 or 6.8% at $68.41 in afternoon trade.


Key potential bidder Google has not formally withdrawn from the auction but it is unclear whether the Internet leader will bid for the company, the sources said.