Microsoft's new holiday ad calls for peace outside Apple store

In an interesting turn of events and in a effort to keep the holiday spirit alive this Christmas, Microsoft seems to be making peace with rival Apple in a simple brand oriented ad. In an advertisement released by Microsoft, employees of the company’s flagship store at Fifth Avenue in New York City along with a Harlem children’s choir, singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth” in front of Apple’s store on 5th Avenue in New York, reported Ad Age.

In the video, Microsoft employees walk towards Apple’s store, with candles in their hand and have Christmas beanies on their heads hymning the tune and everyone on the streets have their eyes glued to the kind gesture. At the end, Apple employees come and greet their friends at Microsoft and share a hug! According to the report, Kathleen Hall, corporate VP-global advertising at Microsoft said that the company had to get permission from Apple to perform the song on the store’s plaza. Apple knew that Microsoft was filming something but were unaware what it was. Hall said it was a moment of “setting differences aside and coming together.” While the video shared online is two minutes long, the spot will air on TV in a 60-second version.