After combing though the iOS 5 SDK, the 9to5Mac crew discovered that some OTA firmware updates can now be handled via a 3G connection instead of requiring you to be hooked up to Wi-Fi. This is part of Apple's plan to make its iOS devices completely free of PC contact. There is a caveat and it is that not all updates will be able to get handled over 3G. It seems that some "point" updates, like iOS 5.1.1 might be able to get downloaded through a 3G connection, while iOS 5.1 might still require Wi-Fi. Or, perhaps 5.1 could be squeezed through 3G pipelines while iOS 6 will require you to have a Wi-Fi signal.
Although unconfirmed, it appears that it will be up to an individual carrier to decide whether or not it will allow an OTA update to be allowed through its precious pipeline. One interesting feature that Apple has set up allows the the update process to start only if the user has enough battery life and storage to handle the entire download. The Cupertino based firm wants you to have 500MB in open storage for each "Delta" update. A "Delta" update is one where only the changes and new code are sent instead of the entire program.
Recommended For You
While Apple has not officially made any announcement about updating over 3G, at WWDC Apple's Senior VP of iPhone software, Scott Forstall, had mentioned that no longer would a computer hookup be required for an iOS update. But nothing was said about whether such an OTA update would require Wi-Fi or could use 3G even though the slide on the screen at the time showed a 3G powered Apple iPhone. And while we still await official word from Cupertino, at least we now have an idea about which OTA updates can be downloaded using 3G.
Some smaller "point" OTA updates can now be installed on the Apple iPhone over a 3G connection
Holiday special: Iconic Phones is now 10% off!
Our new coffee table book, Iconic Phones, is a stunning visual tribute to the legends in the world of phones, featuring exclusive high-resolution photography, stories, quotes and fun trivia. Save 10% by using this code at checkout: XMAS10. Offer lasts until 1 January 2026.
Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: