Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am has taken the wraps off the i.amPULS smartband wearable at Dreamforce 2014 in San Francisco.
Will.i.am showcased the smart cuff made by his company i.am+ on Oct. 15. The i.amPULS is not the first device launched by i.am+. In 2012, the musician launched foto.sosho, which was an accessory for the iPhone's camera. However, the accessory, which was priced at $400, tanked in the consumer space.
The i.amPULS smart cuff, on the other hand, is a wristband capable of receiving and making calls. It can also tell time, even though Will.i.am harps that it's "not a watch." The i.amPULS can also access the Internet via a 3G radio.
"i.amPULS represents digital freedom, individuality, intelligence and the intersection where fashion and technical innovation meet," said Will.i.am. "I'm honored to share my vision for the PULS with this global audience."
The smartband also packs in a personal assistant "AneedA," which is intuitive and can schedule appointments, play music, write email and even post messages on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
PULS runs on an Android platform and i.am+ will release SDKs so that other companies can create apps for the smartband. No details of the screen size and other specifications of the smartband are known at this juncture.
Currently, there is no word on the pricing and exact launch date of i.amPULS, with Will.i.am disclosing that the smartband was "not going to be crazy-ass expensive."
It is expected that the product, whose release has already been delayed from spring, will likely hit the shelves before the holiday season. The i.amPULS is anticipated to be priced upwards of $499.
The smart cuff will be available in four hues: pink, blue, white and black. A special solid-gold i.amPULS and another variant encrusted with diamonds and gold will also retail exclusively.
In the U.S., network operator AT&T is slated to launch the wearable. O2 will release the device in the UK.
Whether the i.amPULS manages to strike the right chord with consumers or does a repeat of the foto.sosho remains to be seen. To get alerted on the availability of the PULS smart cuff from i.am+ sign-up on its website.
