Google recently alleviated pressure from critics who disliked their ownership of the search marketing agency arm of Performics by selling it to Publicis. This appeased critics who disliked having Google own a search agency who buys PPC search ads on Google, MSN, Yahoo, and all.

Microsoft, who acquired Aquantive several months ago, is under similar pressure. As a part of this deal Microsoft got Avenue A, a leading online advertising agency. Avenue A not only buys PPC search ads but every other type of online advertising and even some offline. According to a recent Ad Age report Microsoft may sell off Avenue A to WPP in exchange for some money and valuable assets.

Personally I think this is a very likely scenario and expect Microsoft to complete a deal for Avenue A within the next 6 months.