Having already revealed its application store - the Windows Marketplace for Mobile - at the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona last month, Microsoft is now attempting to entice developers to build applications for its store.

With Microsoft's forthcoming launch Windows Mobile 6.5, to contend against iPhone, Blackberry and Android platforms - each having online stores for third-party software - the company Wednesday issued a call to mobile application developers, detailing them regarding building and selling applications for Windows Mobile devices.

At a yearly charge of $99, the developers can secure a spot in the Windows Marketplace for Mobile service; and place up to five applications up for sale every year.

According to Microsoft, the developers will get 70 percent of the revenue generated from the sales of the applications that they create for the Windows Marketplace. To maintain complete transparency of the proceedings, Microsoft will provide the developers with a certification, along with extending to them full guidance and support at each stage - from the start of application development to its ultimate sale.

Elaborating on the prospective association, Andy Lees, Microsoft's Senior VP for Mobile Communications Business, said: "We'll continue our successful collaboration with developers through Windows Marketplace for Mobile. With the new Windows Marketplace for Mobile and our great development tools, Windows phones represent an incredible opportunity for developers everywhere."