[via engadget]

There is some progress out there at Microsoft in Windows Mobile area, but nothing of it has been released yet (we expect official launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 at Mobile World Congress 2009 in February 2009 and official launch of Windows Mobile 7 at the same event in 2010).

[MSMobiles via PocketNow]

Balmer said:

Now, we built the Zune hardware with the Zune software – and what you’ll see more and more over time is that the Zune software will also be ported to and be more important not just with the hardware but on the PC, on Windows Mobile devices, etc.

Zune is a brand of digital media players and services that includes portable media players, client software, and the Zune Marketplace online music and video store.

Since no time-frame was given, let’s wait until Windows Mobile 7 releases and see what happen.

[via WMPowerUser]

Job Title: Senior Product Manager – Skymarket

This is a unique opportunity and time of rapid change in the mobile industry for a Senior Product Manager in the Mobile Communications Services team to drive the launch of a v1 marketplace service for Windows Mobile.

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 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

Product Manager – Commercial Integration

This is a unique opportunity for a Product Manager in the Mobile Communications Services team to drive the commercial operations and infrastructure integration for the v1 launch of an applications marketplace service for Windows Mobile 7.

Key Responsibilities include the following:

• 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
• Drive the cross group collaboration for the commercial operations and infrastructure that enable initial launch of the marketplace with the launch of WM 7
• Benchmarking 3rd party mobile marketplaces for commercial integration options for consumers and developers, generating a set of best practices as input for the app market planner
• Working closely with product teams and potentially 3rd parties on mobile operator commercial integration
• Define the processes and KPI’s for measurement of the performance of the business
• Define processes for the on-going operation of the business including unds collection, payment, reporting requirements
• Oversight of 3rd party developer payments, tax issues, and funds management
  Work closely with product planning on prioritization of consumer, developer, mobile operator integration, and internal commerce integration scenarios
• Preparation and driving the cross group collaboration for the commercial operations and infrastructure that enable initial launch of the marketplace with the launch of WM 7
• Working with multiple stakeholders (product team, product planning, developer outreach, legal and more) in definition on the process, policies and terms of use through which developers and consumers take part in the marketplace
• Support business development on engagements with mobile operators and integration of the marketplace offering into broader Microsoft services offerings or discussions 

Source [istartedsomething]