Microsoft is preparing to follow rivals Google and Apple with the release of an application store for devices powered by its Windows Mobile operating system. The Mountain View-based search giant has Android Market, the Cupertino-based hardware company has App Store, and Microsoft is cooking Skymarket.

 

The details are scarce at this point in time, but according to the Redmond company, Skymarket is designed to be a version 1 marketplace service for Windows Mobile. For the moment, the software giant indicated that a small group within the Mobile Communications Servicesteam will be dealing with the building and delivery of Skymarket.

 

According to a job listing (via Long Zheng), Microsoft is looking for a senior product manager who will take over the project with the following key responsibilities: “Definition of the product offering, pricing, business model and policies that will make the Windows Mobile marketplace ‘the place to be’ for developers wishing to distribute and monetize their Windows Mobile applications. Responsibility for the business model and key elements that will drive the optimal experience for developers and monetization of the service by Microsoft. Preparation and driving the cross group collaboration for the initial launch of the marketplace offering to the developer community this fall.”

 

Microsoft has failed to offer any official details or to comment in any manner on the project. However, according to the information made available in the job listing, the commercial release of Skymarket will be synchronized with the launch of Windows Mobile 7, the next iteration of the Windows Mobile platform.

 

An excerpt from another job listing reveals that Microsoft needs a product manager able to: “drive the commercial operations and infrastructure integration that will enable the Skymarket service and enable revenue collection from consumers of the service and payments to 3rd party developers selling applications/content through the marketplace.”