There was a time when handling search for AOL was a golden money-making opportunity, but that time is 5 years-plus past. AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, who in no small point of irony was Google's top ad sales gun in North America before he took the helm at AOL, said at the D8 conference his company is talking with multiple potential partners to secure a new Web search deal. AOL's search deal with Google, in which Google powers AOL's search, expires Dec. 19.