According to Magnolia CEO Osmo Hautanen, the software Google's newly acquired patents relate to can be "embedded into any mobile broadband device." The software is sold to mobile device vendors and chipset companies, according to Hautanen.

Interestingly, Google didn't acquire the software, which remains under the ownership of Magnolia. Whether the companies entered into a licensing agreement, however, was not divulged.

A host of major companies have been going on a patent-buying spree lately. Last year, Apple and Research In Motion were among a few companies that bought Nortel's patents for $4.5 billion. Microsoft recently closed a deal to acquire about 800 patents from AOL for $1 billion. Even Google's $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility was motivated by a desire to own that company's patent portfolio.

Who can blame any of the companies? Over the last couple of years, the mobile space has exploded with patent lawsuits, forcing firms to find protection wherever possible. CNET has contacted Google for comment on the patent portfolio purchase. We will update this story when we have more information.