Will.i.am Unveils The i.am+ iPhone Camera Accessory With Keyboard

Last week, we reported that Will.i.am will soon be introducing the i.am+ camera accessory for iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, that will transform the iPhone camera into a 14 megapixel camera. Today, the artist has unveiled the i.am+ accessory which will be available on December 6 in £199 C.4 “contemporary” and £299 V.4 “vintage” models and also feature a slide out keyboard (via MacRumors).

Will.i.am claims that keyboard integration will make sharing and tagging photos a lot easier. Under the brand foto.sosho, the models have interchangeable lenses and a built-in flash, with photo editing, filters and built-in sharing capabilities. The iPhone 4/4S versions will be available from next month, but an iPhone 5 model, which replaces the entire iPhone camera with a new sensor and flash, will come out next year.

The new devices will compete with software-based solutions such as Instagram as well as other camera accessories that add lenses to the iPhone. The new device, however, “fits over your iPhone unit so you only need to carry one device”, i.am+ said. A total of four models will include standard, fish-eye, wide and zoom lenses, with contemporary and vintage models for iPhone 4 and 5 respectively called C.4 and V.4 and C.5 and V.5.

A companion iTunes app turns the hardware in to what the celebrity calls “a social photo experience”. It will also offer easy access for users to store In their individual i.am account.

Users will be able to change shooting modes, apply real-time filters, control the in-built flash and edit pictures taken with the new accessories.