7digital confirms streaming-music role in will-i-am’s new smartwatch

7Digital, the London-based international digital-music and radio services provider, has confirmed it has agreed to operate and develop music-streaming apps for Puls, the new smartwatch created by US star rapper will.i.am.

The Black Eyed Peas singer, who is also an entrepreneur with a creativity-and-technology company called i.am+ (I.Am.Plus), recently officially launched Puls (pronounced Pulse). It is a standalone smart wristwatch that makes phone calls and also streams music, among other functions.

The unique selling point is that it does not need to connect to a smartphone to work.

Rumours abounded that 7digital was operating the streaming-music element. And the company has now verified it is true and part of an on-going relationship with i.am+.

“There is a massive change going on in digital music as new streaming models replace the buy to own downloading model,” explained 7digital CEO Simon Cole about the deal. “Many of these, like the service launched by will.i.am, will be designed for ease of use on mobile and wearable devices.”

Puls is available via the O2 wireless carrier in the US and via AT&T in the US.

[Juliana Koranteng]