One source underscored that Google had made no decision as of Friday on whether it would bid with partners or on its own in the auction of 700-megahertz spectrum due to begin January 24.

Bidding could pit Google against top wireless carriers AT&T Inc and Verizon Wireless, owned jointly by Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc. Google executives discussed the auction last week with Federal Communications Commission officials, including FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, sources familiar with the meeting said.

At the talks, executives for the Web search leader gave the impression of “Inching more towards” a bid, one source said. Google is “Making all the necessary preparations to become an applicant to bid in the auction” ahead of a December 3 deadline for applying to participate, a spokesman said in a statement. “From the company’s perspective, the overriding factor is how to foster more openness in networks,” he said..

Google has said it would be prepared to bid at least $4.6 billion for the biggest chunk of spectrum if regulators agreed to policies to promote open use of such networks.