As MacDailyNews reports, the iPhone now has more apps than does Windows Mobile, which is quite a feat considering that Windows Mobile has been around for nine years, while the iPhone has been doing apps for just eight months. The numbers come in with iPhone having around 25,000 apps (according to 148apps.com) and Windows Mobile having about 20,000 (depending on who you ask – an exact total is difficult to guage).

How did this happen? Two factors. First, the rapid growth of iPhone adoption and use of the app store has generated lots of excitement towards making new applications. Sure, the iPhone has a ton of fart-sound and beer applications, but an app is an app. Also, Apple has been increasing awareness of the app store through its new marketing initiative. And second, Windows Mobile software development has slowed down. Almost every Windows Mobile developer that we’ve worked with (WebIS, VITO, Ilium etc) have been focusing less on Windows Mobile, and more on porting their apps to the iPhone.

The bright spot? We’ve got an application marketplace to look forward to in future Windows Mobile devices, which should, if done right, drive more application development.