TORONTO - The auction of Nortel's last technology assets -- patents for Internet search, mobile video and wireless networks that can be used in consumer technology -- got under way Monday, although most details are being kept confidential.

Internet search engine giant Google originally put in a starting bid at US$900 million in early April but Nortel Networks Corp. delayed the original auction date of June 20 by a week due to a "significant level of interest" from bidders.

iPhone maker Apple, Swedish telecom company Ericsson and chipmaker Intel have been suggested as likely bidders for Nortel's 6,000 patent and patent applications, which could fetch as much as $1.5 billion.

The winning bidder will be able to use the patents to defend itself against potential litigation from other companies that say they had a particular technology first and allege it's being used without a licence.

Chinese telecom ZTE Corp. as well as U.S.-based RPX Corp., which could represent a consortium of companies possibly including Canada's Research In Motion (TSX:RIM), could also be bidders

Google, also a leading force in the smartphone business with its Android operating system, has said it views the acquisition of the Nortel patents as a defence against patent litigation.