If Apple CEO Steve Jobs was to have given a keynote at this month's Apple Expo Paris, he certainly isn't now.

According to the event's official website, the show "will not feature a formal keynote presentation".

Jobs last appeared at Apple Expo Paris two years ago. In 2004, he was recuperating after undergoing treatment for cancer, and the keynote was handled by his number two, Phil Schiller.

It had been forecast the Jobs would be back this year, possibly to announce a major shake-up of the company's iPod line-up. Rumour sites cited sources close to the company that Jobs would speak at the show, and American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu was last month said to have told investors Jobs would keynote the Paris show.

However, Apple has made no formal announcement that Jobs will participate in the show, as it has done on previous occasions, typically during the last two weeks of August.

The news casts Wednesday's music-related announcement in a brighter light. Expected to focus solely on Motorola's iTunes-enabled mobile phone, the event could play host to an update on Apple's iPod plans.

Jobs is expected to attend the show, an Apple representative said, Macworld UK reports.

Apple Expo Paris kicks off on 20 September at the Porte de Versailles. ®