Apple has opened up its iWork for iCloud beta, allowing any user to create a new Apple ID and use the service, regardless of whether they are an iOS or Mac user or not. Although the feature is only available on the beta iCloud site, at least for now, users visiting that site can now sign up for a new Apple ID right from within their browser — something that previously required an iOS device or Mac.
New users get 1GB of free iCloud storage and access to the Pages, Numbers, and Keynote web apps, and can presumably expand that existing Apple ID to be used with iOS and OS X should they later connect it to an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. With competitors like Google Docs and Office 365 already long established, it seems unlikely that Apple is trying to promote this as an alternative web-based document platform for general use — it’s more likely that they’re giving prospective Apple users a look at the iWork services to encourage more adoption of iOS devices and Macs.
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