AppToDate from MoDaCo is a new initiative designed to make it easier to update Windows Mobile applications on the fly. Paul O’Brien, the brains behind MoDaCo and a Windows Mobile MVP himself, has developed the application and sounded the call for developers all over the world to come and take part in the free AppToDate.

To download it, simply click on this link from your mobile device, and you’ll be prompted to download the .CAB file (BTW: Only a shockingly small 55kb). I did, and the install proceeded without any issues (although I wasn’t prompted where to install it to-either way, it’s 55k, so who cares, right?). Unfortunately, I don’t have any apps listed with AppToDate- which makes sense, considering the total supported list as of this post’s writing is only 4.

The above screenshot illustrates AppToDate in action on a device that has the currently supported four installs. As you can see, the device’s .net Config isn’t up-to-date, while the other 3 applications are.

Developers interested in having their application added -for free- need only add a small XML file to their installation, as per Paul’s instructions here. Personally, I think this is a great idea…now all we need is for the idea to take off. Although I’d say that in the PC world this would be an almost impossible idea to successfully implement due to the fragmented nature of the millions of ISV’s, as well as the behemothic proportions of many of the most popular ISV’s, I think that in the mobile world this may take off. Considering the great attitude of some of the key players like Alex Kacs (Pocket Informant and more), Amit Regev (SBSH Software- Pocket Breeze and more), and Chris McKay (LakeRidgeSoftware- WisBar Advance and more) among many others, I’m thinking this may actually have a shot at taking off, and sincerely hope it does…I know it’d be an invaluable timesaver for me personally, or at least when I end up using the same device/ROM for more than a month or so.

Good Luck Paul!