Nokia to launch Windows tablet mid-2012: report

PARIS (Reuters) - Cellphone maker Nokia plans to launch a tablet that runs on Microsoft's Windows operating system in the summer of 2012, the head of Nokia France told Les Echos newspaper in an interview published on Wednesday.

Nokia has said using Microsoft Windows 8 for tablets could be an interesting opportunity for the company but it has not yet unveiled any launch plans.

The tablet would compete with Apple's iPad.

"In June 2012, we will have a tablet that runs on Windows 8," Paul Amsellem told the newspaper.

When asked to comment on the report a Nokia spokesman said: "We have not announced any specific plans as it relates to tablets."

Nokia last month unveiled two sleek new Microsoft Windows phones in time for Christmas, a first step in the ailing cellphone maker's fightback against Apple and Google.

(Reporting by Caroline Jacobs and Tarmo Virki)