For Windows Mobile, 2009 was a mixed bag. On one hand, we saw the release of a new operating system and accompanying services. Also, we witnessed the availability of many new innovative devices that are now selling for subsidized prices on all major carriers. On the other hand, this was a tough year for Windows Mobile from a public relations perspective. This was supposed to be the year of Windows Mobile 7, Microsoft’s answer to the other (strongly growing) mobile platforms like Android and iPhone. Let’s take a look at five stories that helped shape the Windows Mobile landscape in 2009.

5. Marketplace for Mobile and My Phone

Windows Phone devices shipped with the Marketplace for Mobile, Microsoft’s attempt at an application store. It was first only available for 6.5 devices, but was soon after made available for 6.0 and 6.1 users. As of this writing, despite there being approximately 30,000 apps available for Windows Mobile, only about 800 are selling in the Marketplace, compared to 100,000 in the iPhone app store and 20,000 in the Android app store.

There are many reasons that the Marketplace has yet to see success. First, Microsoft hasn’t devoted enough resources to marketing the Marketplace or to encouraging developers to submit their app. Sure, there was the Race to Market Challenge, but that wasn’t enough. Additionally, Microsoft has divided the Marketplace into many regions, requiring developers to pay an additional fee to have their German app be present in the Canadian Marketplace, for example. Some also blame the higher app prices. Apps in the Marketplace for mobile are often two-three times more expensive than similar apps for iPhone or Android.

Another new service for Windows Mobile was My Phone, a free synchronization and phone-tracking platform that runs on any Windows Phone running Windows Mobile 6.0 or higher. The service provides 200MB for backing up contacts, calendar appointments, tasks, photos, videos, text messages, songs, browser favorites and documents. It also has a neat tracking feature that lets you locate your phone on a map if you lose it. Overall, My Phone has received positive reviews and has been a great asset for Windows Mobile users.

4. Windows Mobile 6.5

Windows Mobile 6.5, and the consumer-facing brand “Windows Phone”, officially began to ship on devices in September of this year. The first out of the gate was the HTC Pure (review), essentially a rebranded Touch Diamond2 for AT&T. The new operating system brought changes to the interface to make it more finger-friendly: the menu items grew in size, the Start menu took on a honeycomb shape with no scroll bars, and kinetic scrolling was baked right into the operating system. Also new to 6.5 was Internet Explorer Mobile, a much more capable web browser than the legacy Pocket Internet Explorer. It was the first mobile web browser to natively support flash video.

Windows Mobile 6.5 was considered a way for Microsoft to buy time before shipping 7 (which is now delayed until late 2010). As such, it received negative criticism for being too little of an upgrade to an operating system that has gone mostly unchanged for almost a decade.

3. HTC Touch Pro2

The Touch Pro2 (review) will go down as the most widely available Windows Mobile device. It has seen a release on all four major US carriers, plus many others around the world.

The device has been a huge hit because of its superior keyboard and large, high-resolution tilting display. It also brought a conference room-grade speakerphone that featured dual microphones and speakers, making it a fantastic tool for the mobile professional.

2. Windows Mobile 6.5.x

Starting in the Spring, we began to saw leaks on XDA of what looked to be yet another new version of Windows Mobile. It featured a thinner notifications bar and the relocation of the Start button to the bottom of the screen. Over on YouTube, you can see our playlist of Windows Mobile 6.5.x.

Then, last month, a Microsoft rep revealed some information that implied that the 6.5.x was a version that would feature inbuilt capacitive touch support, a feature that OEMs and consumers have been screaming for. That said, Microsoft has made no official indication on what they plan to do with 6.5.x, and given the delays with 7, it’s possible that we may see devices with capacitive displays ship with this interim build in early 2010.

1. HTC HD2

By far the biggest news in the Windows Mobile world this year was the announcement and release of the HTC HD2 (review). We were all surprised to learn that the HD2 would feature a capacitive touch display because Windows Mobile doesn’t support this technology. HTC did the leg work to make it work, and the implementation is fantastic.

The HD2 wasn’t just a big release for Windows Mobile devices, but for smartphones in general. The HD2 has the largest touchscreen of any smartphone currently available, and bring’s HTC new Sense interface (which in the case of the HD2 was simply a rebranding and update of TouchFLO 3D).

What do you think were the top stories for Windows Mobile in 2009?