OTA stands for "over-the-air" and refers to a wireless technology used to deliver updates, new software, firmware, or other data to mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. OTA updates are delivered through a wireless network, such as Wi-Fi or a cellular network, and can be used to remotely update embedded systems, including mobile phones, tablets, and set-top boxes. OTA technology has grown more prominent with the growth of mobile devices and applications, and it is a more efficient way for OEMs to fix bugs and update software than to manually upgrade each individual device.
There are different categories of OTA updates, including firmware-over-the-air (FOTA), software over-the-air (SOTA), over-the-air provisioning (OTAP), over-the-air service provisioning (OTASP), and over-the-air parameter administration (OTAPA) . OTA updates can also be used to remotely provision a mobile phone and update the cellular network settings stored on its SIM card.
In addition to mobile devices, OTA can also refer to over-the-air television (OTA TV), which is high-definition television broadcast from local television stations in your area. OTA TV can be received using an OTA antenna, which is essential to receiving TV broadcasts.
Finally, OTA can also refer to over-the-air updates in the automotive industry, which are used to automatically update firmware, software, and even encryption keys. These updates can be grouped into two primary categories: infotainment and drive control. Infotainment updates refresh map information, upgrade audio capabilities, and optimize user interfaces, streaming services, and apps, while drive control updates improve the driving experience and create safer roads.
