Apple iOS 7.1.2 Update Coming: New Firmware Could Fix Issues Related To Email Encryption And iMessage

With only 10 days to go for Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, where the company is expected to introduce the iOS 8, the next major update to its mobile operating system, a report said Thursday that the iPhone-maker is working on the iOS 7.1.2, another minor update to the existing iOS 7 platform.

The report about the iOS 7.1.2 update came from MacRumors, which spotted devices running the yet-to-be-released iOS firmware in its web logs over the past week. Visits to its website -- from devices running iOS 7.1.2 -- appeared to have come from Apple’s networks, MacRumors reported.

The new update is said to be in its early stages and may not be subjected to detailed internal and external testing. Being a minor update, the iOS 7.1.2 is expected to bring bug fixes and tweaks instead of new major features. The report also stated that the update is not even likely to go through a developer testing period prior to its release.

Although details about other improvements from the update are not yet available, iOS 7.1.2 is likely to address two important issues. Apple could fix the email attachment encryption glitch, which was reported earlier this month. The company said at the time that it was aware of the issue and would fix it in a future software update.

The second problem to be dealt with in iOS 7.1.2 is related to an iMessage issue, which recently got traction. On Thursday, Apple issued a statement to Re/code, saying that the long-standing iMessage issue had recently become worse owing to a server glitch.

“We recently fixed a server-side iMessage bug which was causing an issue for some users, and we have an additional bug fix in a future software update,” Apple told Re/code, in a statement. “For users still experiencing an issue, please contact AppleCare.”

Apple is expected to unveil iOS 8 at its WWDC 2014 keynote on June 2 and could begin releasing beta builds to developers to make the new iOS version ready for the public by September, when the company is likely to release the iPhone 6.