Application stores appear to be all the rage. Apple opened up the iPhone Apps Store in July, Google announced its Android Market last week, and now it appears that Microsoft is developing an application store, too. SkyMarket, as it is currently called, will support the future Windows Mobile 7 platform.Content developers for mobile platforms are soon going to have more outlets for their creativity than they probably know what to do with. According to a job posting spotted by ComputerWorld, Microsoft is looking for someone to help it launch an application store to compete with the iPhone Apps Store and the Android Market.

The posting, which has since been pulled, lists a bunch of skills and responsibilities. ComputerWorld managed to copy them while the post was still live. This is what Microsoft is looking for:

• 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 application

• 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

• Preparation and driving the cross-group collaboration with stakeholders in the commercial launch of the marketplace service with the launch of WM 7

• Define and mange the consumer, developer, and mobile operator value proposition and supporting materials for use by PR, MCB's developer outreach organization, and other teams across Microsoft

• Working with multiple stakeholders (product team, product planning, developer outreach, business operations, legal and more) in definition on the process, policies and terms of use through which developers and consumers take part in the marketplace

• Work closely with product planning on prioritization of consumer, developer, and mobile operator scenarios

• Support business development on engagements with mobile operators and integration of the marketplace offering into broader Microsoft services offerings or discussions

• Work closely with the Mobile Communication Business developer outreach organization Management of KPI's for the service post launch

What's interesting to note is that Microsoft inadvertently confirmed the existence of Windows Mobile 7, which it had not publicly done before. The Windows Mobile platform is already "the place to be" for enterprise developers. What I think Windows Mobile really needs is a shot in the arm from consumer-level applications. Perhaps SkyMarket will be Microsoft's attempt to really boost the consumer appeal of WinMo.

What's depressing is that this job was just posted. That means Microsoft still has a long way to go to develop SkyMarket. It is suggested that SkyMarket will not go live until Windows Mobile 7 does, which is definitely not going to be until sometime in 2009.

That puts Microsoft way behind Apple and Google.