Updated: The wait for a definitive answer about AOL’s future just got longer. Instead of using the Time Warner Q1 earnings call to talk about plans for AOL’s structure, which are expected by many to include a spinoff, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes instead promised: “We intend to announce our plans about that very soon.”

Bewkes made that promise during his opening remarks as he discussed the hiring of Google ad vet Tim Armstrong (pictured, right) to head AOL as chairman and CEO, mentioning Armstrong’s involvement in the planning for AOL’s future structure and adding that it’s fair to say he wouldn’t have come to AOL if he didn’t see an upside. But Bewkes also stressed the need for Armstrong to address AOL’s current problems, including getting AOL back to industry-level growth rates and making AOL a must-buy again for premium sales.

Meanwhile, Time Warner continues to prepare for a spin, including a statement in the 10-Q filed with the SEC today, and a notice to Google (NSDQ: GOOG) that it will will buy back its 5 percent stake in AOL (NYSE: TWX).  During the call, CFO John Martin also cited the recent rearrangement of its debt that gives Time Warner “much more flexibility with regards to AOL’s structure going forward.”