Apple and Microsoft are competing against each other in several market industries, but the two are also working together on a number of projects, which for some fanboys is a decision that's really impossible to understand.

But not for Apple CEO Tim Cook, who says that collaborating with Microsoft on some projects is actually beneficial to customers, as they can obtain better services and increased productivity on their favorite devices.

Case in point, the iPad Pro. Apple unveiled the new iPad at an event earlier this month, and in order to demonstrate its productivity capabilities, the company invited on stage none other than Microsoft Product Manager Kirk Koenigsbauer. Social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, exploded the moment Koenigsbauer stepped on the stage, with many accusing Microsoft of making the big mistake of promoting products developed by a rival.

The productivity-obsessed company

During Apple's event, Cupertino executives described Microsoft as a productivity-obsessed company, and that's exactly why Tim Cook believes that a partnership between two tech giants can help users.

“Apple and Microsoft can partner on more things than we can compete on and that is what the customer wants… Office on the Mac is a force. Partner with Microsoft is great for our customers, and that’s why we do it,” he was quoted as saying by WinBeta during a Box press event with Ceo Aaron Levie.

Indeed, Microsoft is the maker of Office, which remains the number one productivity suite currently on the market, and in order to make one device productive, in our case the iPad Pro, its owner needs to make this software solution available to customers. This way, buyers can get the best mix available, as the most productive application runs on their favorite devices.

Office will be available on the iPad Pro from the very beginning, but an Office 365 subscription will be required for editing capabilities. The most affordable version of Office 365 is Personal, which costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year.