Microsoft Nokia maybe all ready to get cracking at the smartphone market on the same day as Apple announces the release of its new iPad. If reports are to be believed, Nokia is all set to launch a slew of new mobile devices on Tuesday at an event in Abu Dhabi. The expected launch, which includes six new devices, will be the first major product launch by Nokia since its handset division was taken over for $7.17 billion by Microsoft.

According to the Wall Street Journal, "the beefed-up range of Nokia products" set for release includes its "first tablet computer and so-called phablet devices."

Gigaom also reports that the expected launched could include, "Nokia's first effort at a Windows RT tablet which is expected to debut for $499 with an integrated LTE option on Verizon's network."

Nokia is also expected to unveil its large handset devices, which Gigaon says could be perhaps as big as 6-inches in size.

According to Gigaom, this could be particularly so, as Microsoft had last week had announced Windows Phone support for larger and full HD displays.

Lately, Microsoft has been facing problems with the hardware manufacturing partners, who feel, the company may be in the process competing against them, with the launch of its own home-grown devices.

Now that Microsoft owns its own hardware manufacturing division from Nokia, the proposed launch of these six mobile devices is expected to signal Microsoft's intentions to enter the smartphone and phablet market in a big way.

Now Microsoft does not need to depend on hardware manufactures any longer.

Launching on the same day as Apple unveils its new iPad will also indicate an aggressive posturing by the company for market watchers.

According to Gigaom, that's "partially why Nokia's ex-CEO, Stephen Elop - who is once again a Microsoft employee - is an obvious name in the running to replace Steve Ballmer."

WSJ, meanwhile, reports that "Mr. Elop has been on a whirlwind tour visiting employees on several continents (sometimes accompanied by Mr. Ballmer) and meeting with board members, according to people familiar with his schedule.

The newspaper says that Mr Elop's hope at Microsoft depends on his capacity to end the engineering friction between Microsoft and Nokia and "marketing mishaps that defined the Windows Phone strategy to date."

With so much at stake, the expected launch on Tuesday will be a much awaited affair.