Those in IT contracting could be the real winners in this ongoing saga.
The technology battle of our time – Apple vs. Microsoft – continues to heat up as the former recently offered free access to its web-based productivity apps to all Windows users.
The Cupertino firm has made a move to capture some of the valuable market for productivity software with its iWork for iCloud offering. The applications have previously been locked to those using Apple devices – iPhones, iPads or an OS X-powered Mac, for example – though access has been thrown open to those not part of the manufacturer's universe of products.
While many in IT jobs in New Zealand are likely to own some form of Apple-branded product, given their popularity in the consumer market, this will allow others to access such web-based tools as Pages, Numbers and Keynote.
Although the move is clearly another warning shot between the technology giants, experts believe the move is unlikely to tempt many users to switch sides.
This is mostly due to many people already owning Apple devices and therefore being able to access the iWork suite, which launched in beta form in the fall of 2013. Microsoft's Office Online has also been developed significantly in the same time period and remains the most commonly used productivity suite for both commercial and consumer purposes.
What's more, Microsoft has launched its products – such as Excel, PowerPoint and Word – for free to iPhone and iPad users, though with limited functionality that requires an Office 365 subscription to unlock their full potential.
One interesting point of difference that could cause some brand defection among work-based users is Apple's insistence to offer its iWork for iCloud software for free to those with an Apple ID. Windows-only users can also upgrade for a nominal fee, with Computerworld stating these prices range from US$0.99 per month for 20 gigabytes of data to $19.99 for one terabyte.
This could make Apple's offering more of a consideration for many employed in IT contracting and likely to use high quantities of data each month.
If nothing else, it is another example of how this ongoing battle continues to provide businesses and IT professionals with more products for a better price – making us the real winners.
