Apple has released the latest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 6.1.
The minor update for iPhones, iPads and iPods brings additional 4G LTE support and Siri functionality. Apple confirmed that iOS 6.1 is available to download for free over the air (OTA) now. See also: Apple to launch 128GB iPad.
Philip Schiller, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing at Apple, said: "iOS 6 is the world's most advanced mobile operating system, and with nearly 300 million iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices on iOS 6 in just five months, it may be the most popular new version of an OS in history,"
The news comes just a day before RIM's launch of its latest operating system, BlackBerry 10. See: BlackBerry 10 launch: Live.
"iOS 6.1 brings LTE support to more markets around the world, so even more users can enjoy ultrafast Safari browsing, FaceTime video calls, iCloud services, and iTunes and App Store downloads." added Schiller.
Apple has added 4G LTE capabilities to 36 iPhone carriers and 23 iPad carriers. Users in countries including Denmark, Italy, Finland and Switzerland can now access 4G on their iPhone or iPad.
Apple iOS 6 review
Siri now has the ability to purchase movie tickets and subscribers to iTunes Match can download tracks to their iDevice from iCloud. For now, the ticket purchasing is only available in the US via Fandango. See also: iPad 3 vs iPad 4 comparison review
In the announcement Apple said its App Store now has more than 800,000 apps in it with native iPad apps making up over 300,000 of them. App Store users have downloaded more than 40 billion apps.
iOS 6.1 is available for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini and iPod touch (fourth and fifth generation). Not all the new features will be available to all these devices.
Follow Chris Martin and @PCAdvisor on Twitter.
