I received many questions on what iCloud is and its benefit. So here is what you need to know about iCloud. Simply put it is Apple’s cloud based storage and device syncing service. There has been talk about such services for years but there has never been a service that is as comprehensive that incorporates all your applications, that is automatic, yet easy to use like the iCloud.

Apple‘s iCloud automatically syncs all your content from all your devices to iCloud servers and makes your content accessible from any of your devices like your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, or PC.

The concept is similar to your web based email account, but for your all your content such as contacts, photos, music and apps.

For example if you take a photo with your iPhone it automatically gets stored in your iCloud. When you open your iPad or Mac that photo will be immediately accessible. If you save “to do” tasks from your iPad, you can retrieve it from your iPhone.

The benefit is that iCloud does all this automatically. That means you don’t have to physically sync your devices anymore. If you forget to sync you device – no problem, it will still be up-to-date. Another benefit of auto syncing is that it eliminates duplication. Right now many users have duplicate contacts, photos, calendars on the iPhone, Mac & iPad and they are all different. With iCloud auto syncing all your contacts, photos, calendars  and apps, all your devices will have the same content and the most up-to-date content.

The services is free upto 5 Gigs and that does not include your purchased music, apps, and books, as well as your photo stream. As Apple puts it: “That leaves your mail, documents, Camera Roll, account information, settings, and other app data. And since those things don’t use as much space, you’ll find that 5GB goes a long way.”

iCloud is a win for users. It will make your life much easier. In the future Google Android, BlackBerry and Microsoft might offer such services but for now Apple is light years away.