At some point not too long ago, we –as a society – decided that we didn’t want to be connected to anything anymore by physical wires. Unlike other trends in the technology market, the need to go wireless wasn’t a gentle or subtle migration. It just happened. And companies all over the place were all for helping us in our desperate need to get rid of those pesky wires. Of course, when we’re looking for an update to our phone, we don’t think we should need to connect our device to anything to get that update. Apple disagrees with this, or at least they do right now. Rumor has it that the Cupertino-based company is looking to start updating their branded devices over the air (OTA), but I’m wondering if that’s something iOS 5 even needs.

There’s plenty of anticipation for the next version of Apple’s immensely popular mobile operating system called iOS. People expected it to already be unveiled by now, but for reasons explicitly unknown to the general public we’re still waiting to get our first glimpse of what the next version has in store for users. And there are certain elements that people are expecting, almost demanding at this point, and surely Apple will answer to these folks.

Of course, a new notification system is pretty much in top billing at this point. And there’s not a single person out there who uses iOS, or who may look at iOS on a daily basis, who doesn’t think it’s coming in some fashion or another. It’s time for a change, especially when it comes to notifications on the iPhone, and it’s about time it happens. But, most recently rumored, is that Apple is looking at bringing over the air updates to the iPhone.

As of right now, getting an update on the iPhone requires owners to plug their device into their computer, fire up iTunes, and install the download directly to their device. This isn’t known to be the quickest process in the world, but it’s not all that bad, either. In any event, this is apparently getting tiresome for some owners, as a raising voice from the crowd is insisting that Apple start issuing updates over the air. Now, before Apple can do this they’ll have to change a few things to the back-up process for the device, and, more importantly, temper down the sizes of the updates.

At almost half a gig sometimes, these updates can pack a real punch to the update process in general. And getting an update of that magnitude over the air would probably drive most people crazy, if not outright insane. So, is Apple willing to change those things? And, in the case of the size of the updates, is Apple even able to make the necessary changes to bring OTA update to the iPhone?

But, perhaps the best question of them all is: is this something that Apple even needs to bring to the iOS platform? Connecting the iPhone to the computer and accessing iTunes is something that’s become synonymous with the device, the platform, and iTunes itself. But, if Apple is indeed moving to the cloud as many people are suggesting, then perhaps the company is looking to change the way people interact with their device, as well as iTunes in general. But what do you think of OTA updates coming to the iPhone? Let me know in the comments below.