14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has opened up Pages, Keynote and Numbers to the world, allowing everyone to sign up with an Apple ID and start using the iCloud versions of these apps.
Starting today, any platform with a modern web browser can sign up for an Apple ID and start accessing the cloud-based version of the iWork productivity suite.
Pages, Keynote, Numbers for everyone
It doesn’t matter if you’re on OS X, Windows, or even Android. As long as you’re using a browser like Chrome or Internet Explorer, you can immediately create an Apple account and start using the three apps in the productivity suite.
Users must point their browser to beta.icloud.com, follow the hyperlinked encouragement to “create your free Apple ID and get started today,” enter a name, a password, birthday, and a bunch of security questions, and they’ll be up and running with the office suite in no time.
Users also get a complementary 1GB of storage for their documents. It’s worth noting that Apple device users not only get the three iWork apps, but also the rest of the iCloud offerings, including Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Find My iPhone, Reminders, and Notes.
Still in beta
Apple calls Pages, Numbers, and Keynote “the best way to be productive on a Mac or iOS device,” and now that offer is being extended to users of other platforms as well.
Giving these apps away for free will allow non-Apple users to get a taste of what office work is like using Apple solutions, which can potentially convince them to try other products made by the Cupertino giant.
The service is still in beta though, and has been like that for almost two years now. Apple is known to be struggling with numerous iCloud-related projects internally. Apple maintains a document where it constantly lists the latest new features added to Pages, Keynote, and Numbers.
