iOS 5 to Finally Deliver Over-The-Air Updates?

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According to 9to5Mac, Apple is negotiating with Verizon about delivering over-the-air iOS updates starting with iOS 5.

Multiple sources say the new feature will debut in iOS 5, meaning iOS 5 will not come over-the-air but following point updates to it will. Just like tethering in iOS 3, Apple has the technology but cannot just unleash it everywhere. Apple and Verizon Wireless are said to have been in talks over these wireless software updates since early this year.

An over-the-air update system would allow users to download the iOS update directly to their phone over 3G or Wi-Fi and update their phone to the latest version without connecting to iTunes. Android devices already offer this feature.

Due to the high bandwidth requirement, it seems Apple needs to negotiate deals with individual carriers to allow such a system to take place. We should note that Apple's iOS is partially capable of this functionality already. The Apple TV which is based on iOS 4 offers "over the air" updates with no iTunes syncing required. The Apple TV, however, stores little customer data so backups are not as critical as with iPhone and iPad devices.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tag: 9to5Mac
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Caution)
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

treyjustice Avatar
179 months ago
hope they aren't automatic then people will lose their jailbreaks!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wordoflife Avatar
179 months ago
Wouldn't be a bad idea. Even if they just made "patches" so we aren't downloading half a gb of updates every 2 weeks.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sciwizam Avatar
179 months ago
Blow through your data cap with 650MB downloads for every point update? Not happening until Apple can deliver smaller downloads for updates.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Scrip Avatar
179 months ago


how hard is it to update via itunes?

Plus... you can backup your iPhone when you plug it in.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
boss.king Avatar
179 months ago
Not interested in this. It's not really any more convenient to do this OTA. Just plug your phone in for 10 mins and install it in the evening. I could maybe see this working over Wi-Fi but for a lot of places this would destroy peoples data caps.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
canucksfan88 Avatar
179 months ago
and waste data? i dont know...how useful is this...really?

how hard is it to update via itunes? i just think we as a society are trying to come up with "innovative" and convenient things that are rather pointless.

others may find it useful, but why would one need to update on the go?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)