Apple is reportedly working closely with Verizon Wireless to introduce over-the-air software updates to the iPhone with its iOS 5 firmware. Starting this fall, iPhone users will be able to update their iOS software wirelessly, without having to plug the device into iTunes, or involve a computer altogether. It’s a luxury Google Android and Palm webOS users have been enjoying for some time, and Apple’s finally bringing it to iOS.
Multiple sources for 9to5Mac have revealed the feature will debut with iOS 5 and will support subsequent iOS releases. Apparently, Apple already has the technology, but doesn’t want to release it to the masses all at once. It will therefore be available only to Verizon customers initially.
Sources were unable to confirm whether or not Apple is planning a similar feature with AT&T or international iPhone carriers, though we’d assume it will eventually be rolled out to everyone.
Over-the-air iOS updates are already working well for the Apple TV, but this is obviously a Wi-Fi only device. In order to make the feature available to devices that can download data through a wireless carrier, Apple may need to negotiate deals with individual carriers.
9to5 Mac noted two things the feature could mean for future iOS releases:
1. Updates are now over 600MB. Apple would have to make these smaller to get the carriers to agree to push these things as they are. We believe that Apple will make the updates much smaller by using incremental patches rather than full OS downloads
2. iTunes provides the backup to the iOS device so a failed update would need some sort of backup. We think there will be a Cloud-based backup system.
There’s no denying over-the-air iOS updates would be a handy feature, especially to those who don’t use iTunes or a computer very often. However, I’d prefer to get over-the-air syncing first.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
6 responses to “iOS 5 to Introduce Over-The-Air Software Updates?”
I’m with you – wireless syncing is long overdue and should have been done as soon as the first iPod had wireless connectivity built-in. OS updates only come out every few months on average, but to have your devices in sync all the time, simply by virtue of proximity or remote access is far more useful. I can wait until a convenient time to update an OS, but when I’m in a rush to get to a train, for example, it’s a real bind to find a cable, plug it in, wait for the backup to finish etc etc.
You had me until the Verizon only thing. I think we will see convergence between the carriers’ devices, not further divergence. Apple doesn’t like having so many different systems in place. I suspect we will have the same hardware for all carriers beginning with iPhone 5 or whatever it will be called.
I also wonder how this would affect data caps. Currently you have to download the full image each time, I would think they will do a more OSX like update for this to happen.
I highly doubt this report is true.
One, due to the size
Two, due to the issue that updates could be the only time some folks actually back up their stuff.
Three, why would they need to talk to Verizon at all. They could do it but set it up to work only on wifi and that’s still an improvement
My guess is that this is really about the OTA updating of carrier info which has been lumped into the iOS updates previously. I believe that ATT is already doing OTA updates at least when you activate the phone the first time.