Microsoft this morning unveiled details of its upcoming Windows Marketplace for Mobile app store -- offering mobile application developers the same 70 percent revenue split as Apple does, but also promising "transparency throughout the certification process."

Apple's iPhone App store has generated a lot of interest among developers, but it has been criticized for not giving them enough information about where their applications stand in the approval process, or why they were rejected. Without referencing Apple, Microsoft's news release this morning attempted to show that the Redmond company will take a different approach.

"Developers will be able to see detailed feedback during and after the certification process of their application on the Windows Marketplace for Mobile developer portal," the company said in the release. "Ultimately this enables developers to devote more time to writing innovative applications, and less time trying to navigate the approval process."

Microsoft is charging a $99 introductory annual registration fee. That includes up to five app submissions, with each additional submission costing $99 in that first year. Registration is expected to open in the spring, and submissions will begin in the summer. Microsoft is expected to launch its new app store later in the year with the introduction of Windows Mobile 6.5.

As we reported earlier this week, Microsoft is also trying to get more startups making Windows Mobile apps through weeklong incubation events.