Apple's iWork for iCloud Beta Open to Public

The beta version of Apple's iWork for iCloud is now available to the public.

Simply log into your iCloud account, and you'll find free versions of the Pages (word processing), Numbers (spreadsheets), and Keynote (presentations) features waiting. It's not clear how long this free access will last, so check it out now.

An Apple spokesman declined to comment. But a quick test at the PCMag office proved that the system is up and running.

Cupertino first unveiled iWork for iCloud at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June, promising support for real-time editing via applications that once were available only to native Mac users.

Initially, only developers could get their hands on the software, before Apple handed out invitations to consumers a month ago. Now that the public beta is open to all, anyone with a Web browser, a Mac or PC, and an iCloud account can access apps from anywhere.

The system competes with Microsoft's Office 365 and Google Drive, both of which have ties to the cloud, making document syncing and sharing easier. It debuted in 2011, and eventually replaced the struggling MobileMe.

For more, see PCMag's review of Apple iCloud.

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 3:15 p.m. Eastern with comment from Apple.