How would Shatner have appeared in J.J. Abrams Star Trek?

As we all know, William Shatner turned down the chance to have a cameo in the new Star Trek film as he didn't think it was a big enough part for him. Fair enough. That's his opinion, but it may have been a mistake on his part.

io9 spoke to the Star Trek writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and asked them about how Shatner's Kirk would have appeared in the film. There may be spoilers ahead.

Orci: We wrote it, it was in the script.

Kurtzman: The very last scene when Spock and Spock meet each other, finally. And elder Spock is convincing young Spock that he couldn't interfere, because it would have diverted [Kirk and Spock] away from their friendship. And that their friendship is the key to the whole sort of shebang.

Orci: He gave him a recorded message from Kirk.

Kurtzman: He [elder Spock] said, "Don't take my word for it." And he handed him [younger Spock] a little holographic device and it projected Shatner. It was basically a Happy Birthday wish knowing that Spock was going to go off to Romulus, and Kirk would probably be dead by the time...

Orci: It turned into a voiceover, at the end of the movie.

Kurtzman: So It was a nod too, but it ultimately felt like a cameo, in a way that wasn't.

Would Shatner's appearance have added to the film?

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