i.am+
Corporate brand
Unclaimedi.am+ was a Los Angeles technology company founded by will.i.am to develop fashion-oriented consumer electronics, artificial-intelligence software, and connected devices.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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History
i.am+ emerged from will.i.am’s interest in combining entertainment, design, and technology. An iPhone 4 camera accessory announced in 2012 preceded the company’s formal establishment in 2013. From the beginning, the venture presented consumer electronics as lifestyle products rather than purely technical devices, emphasizing recognizable form, fashion, and music culture. Its early hardware portfolio included the EPs, premium Bluetooth headphones designed with a circular profile inspired by vinyl records. The headphones used a woven cable and magnetic clip, reinforcing the brand’s focus on both appearance and wearability. The line was later replaced by i.am+ BUTTONS, which launched in November 2016 as a second-generation Bluetooth headphone product. The company also pursued cellular wearables through dial, a SIM-enabled smartwatch sold exclusively in the United Kingdom by Three. Unlike many early smartwatches, dial could operate without a smartphone tether for calls and text messages. It included AneedA, a voice-enabled conversational artificial-intelligence system, and music-streaming access, making the device a communications and entertainment product as well as a watch. As the company developed, artificial intelligence became a larger strategic priority. In July 2016, i.am+ acquired Sensiya, an Israeli machine-learning software company that subsequently became known as over.ai. The acquisition supported work in machine learning and natural-language understanding. In July 2017, i.am+ broadened its connected-device ambitions by acquiring Wink from Flex. Wink combined hardware and software for connected-home applications, giving i.am+ an entry point beyond personal audio and wearables. The company’s expansion was supported by external financing. It was reported to have raised $89 million before securing a further $117 million in November 2017, with Salesforce among the earlier associated investors. In January 2018, i.am+ attempted to acquire Swedish wireless-earbud company Earin, but the transaction ultimately failed to close. Later in 2018, the company announced Omega, a platform-agnostic voice-assistant system. A partnership with Majid Al Futtaim was intended to bring the technology to markets in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The available record also shows growing financial difficulty. In late 2019, reports described tax liens and alleged unpaid tax obligations involving both California authorities and the IRS. The reference material does not document a definitive subsequent sale, closure, restructuring, or continuing product program. Therefore, the company’s current status, leadership beyond its founder, and ownership structure remain unconfirmed.
- 2018
Omega announced
[1]i.am+ announced its platform-agnostic Omega voice-assistant technology.
- 2017
Wink acquired
[1]i.am+ purchased Wink from Flex to expand into connected-home hardware and software.
- 2016
Sensiya acquired
[1]i.am+ acquired Israeli machine-learning company Sensiya, later known as over.ai.
- 2016
BUTTONS headphones launched
[1]The i.am+ BUTTONS Bluetooth headphones launched as the successor to the EPs line.
- 2013
Company founded
[1]will.i.am founded i.am+ in Los Angeles to develop products combining fashion and technology.
- 2012
iPhone 4 camera accessory announced
[1]An i.am+ camera accessory for the iPhone 4 was announced before the company’s formal founding.
Products and positioning
A fashion-led consumer-technology venture combining wearable hardware, music-oriented design, standalone communications, artificial intelligence, and connected-home software.
smartphone accessory · 2012
i.am+ camera for iPhone 4
A camera accessory announced for Apple’s iPhone 4 in 2012. It was an early expression of i.am+’s effort to make mobile technology more visually distinctive and oriented toward creative use.
Bluetooth headphones
EPs
High-end Bluetooth headphones with a circular design intended to recall vinyl records. The product used a woven fabric cable and a magnetic clip so the headphones could be worn around the neck when not being used.
smartwatch
dial
A SIM-enabled smartwatch sold exclusively through Three in the United Kingdom. It could place calls and send SMS messages independently of a smartphone, included the AneedA conversational voice assistant, and offered access to a large music-streaming catalog.
Bluetooth headphones · 2016
i.am+ BUTTONS
The second-generation Bluetooth headphone family that replaced EPs. BUTTONS launched in November 2016 and continued the brand’s emphasis on fashion-oriented personal audio.
artificial-intelligence software · 2016
over.ai
The name associated with Sensiya after its acquisition by i.am+. The business supported research and development in machine learning and natural-language understanding.
connected-home technology
Wink
A connected-home hardware and software business acquired from Flex in 2017. Its addition broadened i.am+’s portfolio from personal electronics into smart-home technology.
voice-assistant platform · 2018
Omega
A platform-agnostic voice-assistant technology announced in 2018. i.am+ pursued international deployment through a partnership with Majid Al Futtaim covering the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2018
Pursue a platform-agnostic voice assistantStrategyBackground
i.am+ aimed to make artificial intelligence a broader platform business rather than limiting the company to branded hardware.
Action taken
The company announced Omega and partnered with Majid Al Futtaim for potential deployment across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
Aftermath
The available material does not confirm the scale or continuation of Omega’s commercial rollout.
2017
Purchase Wink from FlexM&ABackground
The acquisition extended i.am+ beyond headphones and wearables into connected-home products.
Action taken
i.am+ purchased Wink, a connected-home hardware and software manufacturer, from Flex.
Aftermath
The transaction gave i.am+ an established smart-home technology asset, although the later commercial outcome is not established in the available sources.
reported transaction value. $38.7 million (2017)
2016
Acquire Sensiya to build artificial-intelligence capabilitiesM&ABackground
i.am+ sought to develop machine learning and natural-language understanding alongside its consumer hardware activities.
Action taken
The company acquired Israeli software company Sensiya, later associated with the over.ai name.
Aftermath
The acquisition became part of i.am+’s artificial-intelligence and voice-interface strategy.
Recent events
IAM receives 2021 Ingenuity Brand recognition[2]
IAM was selected for the 2021 Ingenuity Brand list and received the “Ingenuity Brand” honor. The report says the evaluation covered 296 brands.
Reported
ktMINE and IAM partner to deliver patent report[3]
ktMINE partnered with IAM to deliver a ranking of entities that own at least 1,000 granted US patents.
IAM launches global patent litigation survey[4]
IAM launched its first benchmarking survey focused specifically on patent litigation, seeking views on issues facing plaintiffs and defendants in major markets.
Sources4 sources
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