Google is carefully treading the line between partnerships in the mobile space, all while moving to control its own portion of the wireless industry, reports CNET.

The search/ad/media giant is, on the one hand, partnering with companies like Sprint on deals that extend the reach of various Google services. On the other hand, the search giant alone is vying to bid on newly available portions of the wireless spectrum.

Danny Sullivan from Search Engine Land says Google's moves are prompted at least in part by a desire to protect wireless access. Recent moves by telecoms against so-called "net neutrality" are worrisome to Google and others since bandwidth or other restrictions could limit usage of their high-speed friendly applications.

Some have speculated Google could be moving toward direct competition with wireless carriers, which has some carriers wary of Google's activities in the mobile space.