Nokia is reported to have shelved the planned launch of a “phablet” device, originally slated for later this month, although the company has now begun sending out teasers for an event in October 2013.

After the mooted device – apparently codenamed Lumia 1520 – was reported late last month, it was expected to debut at an event late in September. This unveiling may also have seen the debut of Nokia’s first Windows-powered tablet, which has similarly been long-anticipated.

While Reuters attributed the postponement to the pending Microsoft deal, it is not clear why this is the case. The pair should still be operating as separate companies in the meantime, and indeed it is not clear how the new owner would benefit from delaying the introduction of additional Windows Phone devices.

Although the “phablet” sector has seen significant interest in recent months, Nokia has not entered this market – a decision believed to lie in the lack of support for suitable display resolutions in the Windows Phone platform.

Despite the launch of competing products such as Sony’s Xperia Z Ultra, Samsung’s Galaxy Note III, and a raft of others, Nokia’s largest-screened smartphone is the Lumia 625, with its 4.7-inch display keeping it out of the phablet category – and its mid-tier feature set keeping it out of the premium sector.

According to figures from IDC, phablets are already outselling portable PCs and tablets in APAC (excluding Japan), driven both by sales in developed and emerging markets.