Apple May Offer iOS 5 Over the Air Updates

· by · Rumor

Apple is apparently working with cell carriers to offer over-the-air operating system updates for the iPhone and iPad, and Verizon may be the first partner to sign on. Currently, all iOS updates are pushed through iTunes and require users to connect their device to their computer.

iPhone with radio toweriOS 5 may offer OTA updates

Apple and Verizon have been discussing plans for an over-the-air update system earlier this year, according to 9 to 5 Mac, and is expected to roll out after iOS 5 is released. There isn’t any word yet on whether or not Apple is working on deals with other carriers including AT&T.

Offering wireless download options for OS updates would bring Apple in line with other companies that deliver smartphone software revisions without requiring a computer connection. Apple may, however, need to find ways to deliver the updates in smaller files since the company’s current iOS downloads top 650MB.

Assuming Apple does begin delivering iOS updates wirelessly, iPhone and iPad owners would be a step closer to cutting the physical cord with their Mac or Windows PC, and the iPad would be a little closer to truly functioning as a stand-alone computer.

Apple and Verizon haven’t offered any comments on the possibility of over-the-air iOS updates.

Jeff Gamet

Jeff Gamet

Jeff is the Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and co-host of the Apple Context Machine podcast. He is the author of "The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X" from Peachpit Press, and writes for several design-related publications. Jeff has presented at events such as Macworld Expo, the RSA Conference, and the Mac Computer Expo. In all his spare time, he also co-hosts the We Have Communicators podcast, and makes guest appearances on several other podcasts, too. Jeff dreams in HD.

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1 Comments

Dean Lewis

And this will come out of our data caps, right? Of courset he carriers wnat to allow this. It means more money for them when people go over their allotment or purchase more GBs to make up for it.

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