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:

Types of OTA Updates

OTA Updates for Mobile Apps

Traditional App Updates

Without OTA:

Problems:

Content OTA Updates

With OTA (for content like translations):

Benefits:

What Can Be Updated via OTA?

Can Update (Content)

Cannot Update (Code)

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:

Total time: 1-2 weeks for a typo fix

With OTA Translation Updates

Fixing a translation:

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):

import IntlPull

// Initialize at app launch
IntlPull.configure(projectId: "xxx", apiKey: "xxx")

// Use translations - automatically updated
let title = IntlPull.t("welcome.title")

Android (Kotlin):

// Initialize
IntlPull.configure(projectId = "xxx", apiKey = "xxx")

// Use translations
val title = IntlPull.t("welcome.title")

Update Flow

OTA Update Benefits

OTA Security Considerations

Best Practices

App Store Compliance

Apple (iOS):

Google (Android):

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:

Summary

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

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