What is an OTA Update? Over-the-Air Updates Explained

Quick Answer

OTA (Over-the-Air) update is a method of delivering software updates wirelessly to devices without requiring a physical connection or manual download from an app store. The device receives and installs updates automatically via internet connection.

Definition

OTA Update: A wireless delivery method for distributing new software, configuration changes, or content updates to remote devices. In mobile app context, OTA updates allow developers to push changes directly to users' devices without requiring a new app store release.

How OTA Updates Work

┌──────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐
│   Developer  │────▶│     CDN      │────▶│    Device    │
│   Dashboard  │     │   (Cloud)    │     │   (App)      │
└──────────────┘     └──────────────┘     └──────────────┘
    Publish           Distribute         Auto-download
    update            globally           and apply

Process:

1. Developer publishes an update
2. Update is distributed to CDN servers worldwide
3. Device checks for updates (on launch or periodically)
4. Device downloads only changed content (delta update)
5. Update is applied automatically

Types of OTA Updates

OTA Updates for Mobile Apps

Traditional App Updates

Without OTA:

1. Make code change
2. Build new app version
3. Submit to App Store / Play Store
4. Wait for review (1-7 days)
5. User must download update

Problems:

• Slow iteration (days to weeks)
• Users must manually update
• Can't fix critical issues quickly
• A/B testing requires multiple builds

Content OTA Updates

With OTA (for content like translations):

1. Make content change
2. Publish to OTA server
3. Users receive update instantly
4. No app store required

Benefits:

• Instant updates (seconds)
• Automatic for users
• Fix issues immediately
• A/B test without new builds

What Can Be Updated via OTA?

Can Update (Content)

• Translations and text strings
• Configuration settings
• Feature flags
• Remote assets (images, JSON)
• Analytics settings

Cannot Update (Code)

• Native code (Objective-C, Swift, Java, Kotlin)
• App permissions
• App icon
• Core functionality

Note: Apple and Google allow content OTA updates but prohibit code updates that bypass app store review.

OTA Translation Updates

A specific type of content OTA that updates translation strings in mobile apps without app releases.

The Problem Without OTA

Fixing a translation typo requires:

1. Developer updates translation file
2. QA verifies the change
3. New build is created
4. App store submission
5. Review period (1-7 days)
6. Users must update app

Total time: 1-2 weeks for a typo fix

With OTA Translation Updates

Fixing a translation:

1. Update translation in TMS dashboard
2. Click publish
3. Users see the fix immediately

Total time: Under 1 minute

Which TMS Platforms Support OTA?

IntlPull is currently the only translation management system offering OTA translation updates.

How OTA Translation Updates Work

SDK Integration

iOS (Swift):

SwiftCopy
1import IntlPull
2
3// Initialize at app launch
4IntlPull.configure(projectId: "xxx", apiKey: "xxx")
5
6// Use translations - automatically updated
7let title = IntlPull.t("welcome.title")

Android (Kotlin):

KotlinCopy
1// Initialize
2IntlPull.configure(projectId = "xxx", apiKey = "xxx")
3
4// Use translations
5val title = IntlPull.t("welcome.title")

Update Flow

1. App launches and checks for translation updates
2. If new version exists, downloads delta (only changed strings)
3. Translations are cached locally
4. App displays updated translations
5. Offline? Uses cached version

OTA Update Benefits

OTA Security Considerations

Best Practices

1. Signed Updates: Verify update authenticity
2. HTTPS Only: Encrypt all communications
3. Content Validation: Validate before applying
4. Rollback Capability: Revert if issues arise
5. Scope Limitation: Only update content, not code

App Store Compliance

Apple (iOS):

• Content updates via OTA: Allowed
• Code updates via OTA: Prohibited
• Must not change app functionality

Google (Android):

• Content updates: Allowed
• Dynamic code loading: Restricted
• Must follow Play policies

Frequently Asked Questions

What does OTA stand for?

OTA stands for "Over-the-Air" - a method of wirelessly delivering updates to devices without physical connection.

What is an OTA update on a phone?

On phones, OTA updates typically refer to system updates (iOS, Android OS) delivered wirelessly. For apps, OTA can mean content updates delivered without app store releases.

Is OTA update safe?

Yes, when properly implemented. Legitimate OTA updates use encryption, signing, and verification. Only download OTA updates from trusted sources.

Do OTA updates happen automatically?

Depends on the implementation. System OTA updates often require user confirmation. Content OTA updates in apps typically happen automatically in the background.

What's the difference between OTA and app store updates?

App store updates replace the entire app binary and require store review. OTA updates deliver specific content changes directly to the app without store involvement.

Can OTA updates change app code?

For mobile apps, OTA should only update content (text, configs, assets), not native code. Updating code via OTA would violate app store policies.

How do I enable OTA translation updates?

Use a TMS that supports OTA, like IntlPull:

1. Sign up and create a project
2. Add the SDK to your mobile app
3. Configure with your API key
4. Translations update automatically

Summary

OTA (Over-the-Air) updates deliver software changes wirelessly to devices. For mobile app localization:

• Traditional updates: Days to weeks via app store
• OTA content updates: Seconds, directly to users
• OTA translations: Only available through IntlPull
• Benefits: Speed, automatic, no app store required
• Limitations: Content only, no code changes

Want OTA translation updates? IntlPull is the only TMS offering OTA for iOS, Android, and React Native apps.