Adobe has uncovered more details of Creative Cloud, its upcoming online service. The service was originally announced in October, but until now has been largely kept under wraps. Access will cost at least $50 a month under a one-year contract, but grant users access to the apps in Creative Suite 6; by comparison, current CS5.5 bundles start at $1,299 up-front, and can cost as much as $2,599 for the complete collection.
Creative Cloud subscribers will be able to install CS6 apps on up to two machines. The basic fee includes 20GB of cloud storage, and enables sync between computers and mobile devices, plus use of the company’s Touch apps for iOS and Android. Among other benefits will be the use of Business Catalyst, Typekit and the Digital Publishing Suite, and first access to major new features where up-front CS buyers will have to wait. Adobe attributes the artificial delay to subscription accounting rules.
The cloud service will launch sometime in the first half of this year. To attract businesses Adobe is planning to launch a team option in the fall. For this cost, though, companies will get additional security and collaboration functions. Other long-term plans include the bundling of Lightroom 4 once it comes out of beta, and access to Muse and Edge sometime before the end of the year.
