Apple iCloud heads into beta phase with web site upgrade

Apple's iCloud has been eagerly anticipated since it was unveiled in June at WWDC alongside iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion.

Pitched as a key addition to the Mac OS and iOS platforms, iCloud offers a way to backup, synchronise and manage Apple devices on the web. 

Despite the hype, Apple has avoided setting a hard release date for the service, but if recent developments are to be believed an iCloud launch could come sooner rather than later.

A quick visit to iCloud.com shows that Apple has moved the project into the beta phase. While it may currently be limited to developers, the move indicates that in all likelihood we are just weeks away from a public launch.

When it does arrive, iCloud could bridge an important gap in Apple's lineup. The company has established itself in the mobile and desktop spaces, but the only thing connecting the iOS and OS X brands thus far has been a small white USB cable.

The success of iCloud could bring Apple that much closer to having a single platform to connect and manage all its future devices.