Google Inc. announced Friday that it will apply to bid for wireless spectrum in a January Federal Communications Commission auction.

The Mountain View, Calif., Internet company had previously said it would probably bid for spectrum, a chunk of the airwaves that can be used to provide mobile phone and Internet services. But some analysts had questioned whether such statements were just a negotiating tactic in Google's discussions with wireless carriers. The FCC has a Dec. 3 deadline for any parties to declare their intent to bid.

"We believe it's important to put our money where our principles are," Chairman and Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said in a press release. "Consumers deserve more competition and innovation than they have in today's wireless world. No matter which bidder ultimately prevails, the real winners of this auction are American consumers who likely will see more choices than ever before in how they access the Internet."

If it wins a wireless license, Google would be in a position to become a provider of mobile phone and Internet services, to partner with others interested in doing so or to lease the spectrum to them. The company has said it wants to make mobile networks more open, so that consumers can use any Internet service and application and move their handsets between carriers without onerous restrictions.

Google will likely square off at the auction against large U.S. wireless carriers such as AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC, that are looking for more spectrum.