For many business professionals, the iPad and it's smaller cousin the iPad mini have totally changed the workplace. These sleek, professional and oh-so portable tablets can go anywhere and do almost anything. But many who work in the corporate world have had difficulty opening and creating documents on their iPhone or iPad, because they are used to Microsoft Office.

Though Apple offers its own suitable - and what many people consider to be better - alternatives, Office still prevails among professionals. Well, if the rumors are true, their already capable iPad might soon become capable of running this popular program.

Early on December 11, some photos surfaced on French Apple enthusiast site Mac4Ever.com, showing that the help section of the French Microsoft Office site now featured sections for using its various applications with iOS devices.

American Apple journalists from MacRumors took a look at it, and found several more references to iOS products on the American and French Microsoft Office sites, leading them to conclude that the folks at Microsoft have an iOS-friendly version of Office up their sleeves.

The references indicate that this new line of iOS apps could be making its way to iPad mini screens around the world as early as 2013, though Redmond Pie writer Ben Reid was careful to note that references on websites such as this one don't always pan out within their expected timeframe.

The addition of Microsoft Office apps could make the iPad and iPad mini even more useful for business professionals. If you want to give the executive in your life something that they will love this holiday season, get a customized iPad from PortableOne. Our experts can tailor this wonderful device to your exact specifications.