If you're interested in mobile devices and in the mood for some in-depth technical reading this weekend, check out this case study Microsoft has published about one developer's experience porting an iPhone application to Windows Mobile 6.5.

It tells the story of Luke Thompson, software engineer at Seattle-based Gripwire.com who adapted the Amplitude sound-monitoring application from the iPhone for use on Windows phones. Even though it's published by Microsoft, not by a neutral source, the study is interesting on a number of levels, detailing technical and logistical differences between the iPhone and Windows Mobile platforms.

Explains Microsoft program manager Constanze Roman on the Windows Mobile team blog: "Amplitude is well suited for a porting project because it combines a rich user interface with features such as alpha blending and transparency with specific audio and sound requirements, which makes it challenging to port the app but, at the same time, provides a number of helpful learning experiences."

This is all in preparation for the fall launch of Windows Marketplace for Mobile, as outlined in our story yesterday.

Of course, Microsoft's mobile marketplace will need some killer apps of its own if it's going to succeed, but the case study provides background for assessing whether Microsoft can, at least in part, ride the App Store's coattails by getting developers to port their apps from the iPhone.

The site wmpoweruser explains the broader implications: "Windows Mobile has a ton of productivity apps, but when it comes to the fun and populist apps the iPhone has a huge lead. Marketplace for Windows Mobile aims to change that by providing an outlet for developers to access consumers looking for just such entertainment."