Over-the-Air iOS Updates Could be Coming in iOS 5

[Maura]

9to5 Mac reports today that iPhone users could soon be updating to the latest iOS over the air rather than the current method of connecting your iPhone to iTunes. Users of smartphones running on other operating systems, such as Google's Android, already enjoy over-the-air software updates. According to 9to5 Mac’s sources, Apple plans to introduce over-the-air updates with iOS 5; you’ll first have to update iOS 5 in the usual way, via iTunes, but once iOS 5 is installed you should be able to update your iPhone over the air from that point onwards. However, using the service will mean that Apple would have to reduce the size of its updates, which are currently over 600MB. 9to5 Mac thinks that Apple will do this via incremental patches instead of a full iOS download. Backup, which is currently provided by iTunes, may well be provided via cloud-based storage in future.

According to 9to5 Mac, Apple already has the technology to implement over-the-air-updates, but it’s a question of negotiating with the carriers to determine when it can be put into practice. Apple is apparently already in talks with Verizon Wireless about offering the service, but there is no word as yet as to whether they are having similar talks with AT&T or with international iPhone carriers.

Source: Apple and Verizon to deliver over-the-air iOS updates to Verizon iPhone | 9 to 5 Mac Apple and Verizon to deliver over-the-air iOS updates to Verizon iPhone | Apple Intelligence

 

[Gregoris]

sweet! no more looking for my usb to plug into the computer this is going to make things much easier and make it even more tempting to upgrade to the beta ios 5's