"App Store" for Windows Mobile Coming?

A job posting spotted on ComputerJobs.com shows that Microsoft is looking for a Senior Product Manager for a project called Skymarket, a "a v1 marketplace service for Windows Mobile." With both Apple and Google either having or planning centralized stores for applications for their platforms, Microsoft's been the odd-man out. There are various stores that sell Windows Mobile software, but nothing centralized and Microsoft-backed.

According to the job post:

Key Responsibilities include the following:

• 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

• 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 manage 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

In its first month after opening, Apple's App Store had 60 million downloads, most of which were free, yet sales amount to $30 million. Will Skymarket have a large impact? We have our doubts, as part of the reason for the App Store's wild success has been the wild success of the iPhone itself. Still, time will tell.