Windows Marketplace for Mobile is getting ready to launch. With the blastoff date less than two weeks away, Microsoft provided an enthusiasm-building announcement to prepare for the launch.

Todd Brix is (get ready for this title) The Senior Director for Mobile Platform Services Product Management at Microsoft. His report on Tuesday provided a we’re-on-schedule update and promised a great new slate of applications to be available on Windows Marketplace for Mobile. In addition to the expected, he announced that users of the old mobile platform (Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1) would have access to the online store as well as users of the yet-to-be-released Windows Mobile 6.5, which is scheduled for availability this fall.

Windows Marketplace Business Center is one unique feature that makes finding apps a bit easier. The Business Center category is stocked with business-related apps that should help users to find the tools that they want, and help developers to get the visibility they need.

In a final plug to solicit developers, Brix announced a “developer contest.” Kick-off date for that isn’t until July 27, the same day as the opening of the Windows Marketplace for Mobile. The contest, if staged effectively, will pull from the teeming population of developers who are busy building more iPhone apps (a phenomenon that Microsoft would rather see ceased).

The good news for international mobile users is that Windows Marketplace for Mobile is available in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, U.S.A.

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