We're hearing that an e-mail is circulating among members of Microsoft's MSN/Windows Live group -- based at the company's RedWest campus -- that suggests they will be staying put. This news, according to our source, was greeted with hoots and hollers from people who were none-too-pleased about the prospect of moving to new digs, possibly the Advanta buildings in southeast Bellevue (which, by the way, would have also been news). RedWest, a cluster of buildings put up in the mid-1990s, is already somewhat removed from the main corporate headquarters campus to the east of Highway 520.

Microsoft has not yet publicly announced which groups would be occupying the large tracts of office space it's leasing in Bellevue, with one exception. It said Lincoln Square will house the company's North American sales group, although we know other support services are stationed there, too.

I've asked a Microsoft spokesman for confirmation on the future whereabouts of the MSN/Windows Live group and any updates on plans for the Bellevue leases. We'll post a response if we get one.

Update: "It's true that the [MSN/Windows Live] group was considered to be the candidate to move to Advanta, but is not moving to Advanta," writes Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos in an e-mail. "... The reason is that, ultimately, it was decided that a move to Advanta would actually split the group. Not of all them would move. So they'll stick together at RedWest. No word on which group may move to Advanta, though, as is the case in all of this activity, a number of scenarios are being considered."

Another source tells us about the cheering in the halls at this news and added that "the little display about how nice life would be at Advanta abruptly disappeared."