Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Mobile
    • Networking

    Apple, Microsoft Group Beats Google to Nortel Patents

    By
    Clint Boulton
    -
    July 1, 2011
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Nortel Networks June 30 said it sold its patent portfolio for $4.5 billion to a consortium comprising Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Microsoft(NASDAQ:MSFT), Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM), Sony, EMC (NYSE:EMC) and Ericsson.

      The sale is a blow to Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), which started the stalking horse bidding by offering Nortel $900 million for the patents back in April.

      Google desired-some would say needed-the patents to stave off increasing litigation in the mobile technology sector.

      “This outcome is disappointing for anyone who believes that open innovation benefits users and promotes creativity and competition,” Google said in a statement. “We will keep working to reduce the current flood of patent litigation that hurts both innovators and consumers.”

      Nortel, which is mired in bankruptcy, struck its deal in a multiday auction, shedding 6,000 patents and patent applications that cover wireless, wireless 4G, Web search, social networking, data networking, optical, voice, Internet, service provider and semiconductors.

      Nortel’s patent sale is subject to approval by courts in Canada and the United States. The networking company will seek those approvals at a joint hearing July 11. Nortel aims to close the sale in the third quarter this year.

      Nortel was quite pleased with the results, considering the bidding started at under $1 billion with Google.

      “Following a very robust auction, we are pleased at the outcome of the auction of this extensive patent portfolio,” said George Riedel, Nortel’s chief strategy officer and president of business units. “The size and dollar value for this transaction is unprecedented, as was the significant interest in the portfolio among major companies around the world.”

      J.P. Morgan analysts said last December Google and Apple were gunning for Nortel’s patents for 4G wireless communications, also known as LTE (Long-Term Evolution). This proved prescient, with the Justice Department clearing both rivals to bid for Nortel’s intellectual property.

      4G networks are far faster than the current 3G networks. This affords considerable opportunities for smartphone software such as Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS platforms.

      Google is patent-poor compared with older, larger companies, a fact Kent Walker, Google’s senior vice president and general counsel, noted in April:

      “One of a company’s best defenses against this kind of litigation is (ironically) to have a formidable patent portfolio, as this helps maintain your freedom to develop new products and services.”

      Oracle is suing Google for patent infringement over its use of Java in its open source Android operating system. Apple has sued HTC and is embroiled in a nasty, increasingly complex legal battle with Samsung over alleged patent infringements.

      Clint Boulton

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×