Apple is getting ready to pull the plug on iWork.com before the service even manages to make it out of beta. The company sent an e-mail on Friday to customers who had signed up for iWork.com to inform them that the service would be discontinued as of July 31, 2012 and any documents stored there would be deleted.

Apple first introduced iWork.com as part of an iWork software refresh in January of 2009. The goal was to allow iWork users to share their documents online for collaboration with others—sort of like a Google Docs, but by Apple. Since then, however, Apple launched iCloud—among other things, the service allows apps like iWork on the iPad to sync documents to other devices, and the launch of Mountain Lion for the Mac will bring that same functionality to the desktop.

As such, Apple has decided to pull a Google and shut down iWork.com before it gets to enjoy any kind of non-beta status. Current users are encouraged to log into their accounts and download any documents they might have stored there before the July 31 deadline rolls around (Apple has provided a handy support document for those who need help). Below is the full text of Apple's letter: