Rapper 50 Cent has unveiled new heart-monitor headphones targeting "smart exercise" and simultaneously announced a new partnership with computer chipmaker Intel.
PCMag reported that the headphones will be released later this year under 50 Cent's SMS Audio brand, and feature built-in optical sensors that measure heart rate.
"The wearable technology collaboration between SMS Audio and Intel elevates our capability to bring smart exercise to consumers," said SMS president Brian Nohe. "[W]e're now the first to provide this level of integrated, seamless and helpful biometric information to inspire customers to advance their fitness experiences."
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Intel announced it was pushing more strongly into wearable sensors back in January, and some suspect the technology originally came from fitness-band maker Basis Science, which was acquired by Intel in March.
"This is not a hobby for us at Intel," said Mike Bell, general manager of Intel's New Devices Group. "We really believe that wearable technology is going to be a large segment."
The in-ear headphones will be called the BioSport, and round out SMS's Audio Sport Collection that launched this past July with an investment from NBA star Carmelo Anthony. By focusing on sports audio, SMS hopes to differentiate itself from other high-end headphones brands like Bose and Beats, the latter of which was created by rapper/producer Dr. Dre and recently sold to Apple.
The data collected by the sensor headphones can be viewed using the RunKeeper app, which was developed by Boston-based FitnessKeeper.
Both companies declined to estimate a price for the forthcoming headphones, but did say they expect the BioSport project to be the first of many collaborations.
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