Sources close to former RIM co-CEO [Jim Balsillie][3] have revealed his plans to save the company before he was shown the door, a plan that _didn't _involve handsets. He'd entered into talks with [AT&T][4], [Verizon][5] and several European carriers to offer them use of the company's [BlackBerry-exclusive network][6] to provide limited data plans to featurephone users that included social networking and [BBM][7] -- with the aim of reducing the cellphone operators data burden and coaxing users to upgrade to smartphones. The company was working on [Mobile Fusion][8]; software that allowed enterprise and government users on iOS and Android devices to join RIM's system, which reportedly earns the company $1 billion per quarter. However, while talks progressed, company execs grew nervous and ousted him in favor of [Thorsten Heins][9] with a mandate to focus on [BB10][10] and [new devices][11] rather than turning RIM into a service company. However, given that it's still losing money on its handset business, Heins has reopened the door to Balsillie's plan. It's just a shame Balsillie himself is keeping quiet, as we'd love to hear his thoughts in an executive-level edition of [_How Would you Change_][12].
[Former RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie's very different rescue plan revealed][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][13] on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:57:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][14].
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[1]: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/04/jim-and-jason.jpg
[2]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/jim-balsillie-rim-plans/
[3]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/rim-announces-q4-2012-earnings-jim-balsillie-resigns-from-compa/
[4]: http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/10/atandt-blackberry-bold-hands-on/
[5]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/verizon-launches-blackberry-curve-9370/
[6]: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/12/rim-clarifies-global-service-outage-doesnt-provide-eta-for-res/
[7]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/11/twitter-and-facebook-for-blackberry-get-bbm-connected-bbm-gets/
[8]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/blackberry-mobile-fusion-ios-android/
[9]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/29/rim-ceo-thorsten-heins-laying-off-executives-earnings-report/
[10]: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/rim-blackberry-10-smartphones-wont-arrive-until-end-of-2012/
[11]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/rim-phone-dock-patent-app/
[12]: http://www.engadget.com/all/hwyc
[13]: http://www.engadget.com
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[17]: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/13/us-rim-idUSBRE83C0JO20120413
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