New information has surfaced online that could confirm that Nokia plans to release its own tablet. Engadget.com discovered a patent application filed by Nokia for an "apparatus cover with keyboard" which looks like a Microsoft Surface tablet, although it is offering support for a stylus. However, the application was filed on October 11, 2011, which is long before Microsoft launched its first tablet and sice then Nokia's plans might have changed. But still, images leaked online earlier this week detailing mock-ups for the Adidas miCoach app that were presented on a Nokia-branded tablet.

Late last year, both Digitmes and ZDNet separately claimed that Nokia was planning to develop and launch a Windows RT tablet but had put everything on hold until it could gauge public reaction to initial products running the stripped down OS.

Since the Windows RT OS has not been very well received by consumers - at least judging from the conservative stance kept by other hardware makers such as Lenovo and Dell - Nokia could choose to release a tablet running the x86 version of Windows 8, like Microsoft's own Surface Pro tablet.