While Microsoft still hasn’t launched its applications storefront Marketplace for Mobile, its competitors are doing quite well with Apple’s iTunes App Store celebrating its one year anniversary and the Android Marketplace now having added 5,000 applications.

Marketplace for Mobile is said to be launching at around the same time that the first devices with Windows Mobile 6.5 will launch, which means that the store should be open soon. Rumors say that Microsoft’s Windows Phone Marketplace for Mobile launch with 6,000. While the number may seem large compared to the dozen or so apps that the Palm Pre launched with nor is that number an inclusive list of applications that are written, coded, or developed for Windows Mobile.

While there have been existing applications stores since the Pocket PC days like those hosted by Handango, Microsoft’s store will offer developers greater control and flexibility while offering users device extensiblity. Unlike Handango and other stores, Marketplace for Mobile will allow developers to keep 70% of revenues, quite a bit higher than the 40-50% surcharge imposed on developers on competing Windows Mobile storefronts. Moreover, consumers will be able to avoid serial numbers with application authentication using Live ID; users can use their purchased applications on up to give devices at the same time with the only caveat being that the same user and purchaser must own and use all the devices so no application sharing.

Unfortunately, if early screenshots are true, there will be pricing disparity between platforms, with Windows Mobile versions costing more. In an early mockup, Zagat to Go on Windows Marketplace for Mobile costs $30; the same app on the iTunes App Store for the iPhone costs $10. In this case, Marketplace is a year late and Zagat is a Jackson more. Hopefully, applications will come with more amenable pricing, or at least consistent pricing between platforms.