New 'Nano-coating' Protects Smartphones From Water

Have you ever dropped a smartphone or other handheld digital device into a toilet or sink? It's a horrible, gut-wrenching feeling knowing that you may have accidentally destroyed your phone and all of its information in an instant -- but a new scientific breakthrough may help to change that.

A new nano-coating procedure offered by three different companies is said to prevent such accidents from ruining your expensive smartphone. The price: only $60. Not surprisingly, the technology aroused a lot of interest at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Plasma Gas Creates Nanometer-Thick Shield

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show, companies P2i, HzO, and Liquipel all unveiled their own versions of waterproof "nano-coating."

The protection they deliver is essentially the same: each firm applies the thin coating in the form of a plasma gas, which allows it to penetrate the interior of the device and deposit a nanometer-thick moisture-proof polymer shield on all its vital components.

The three firms showing off the technology in Las Vegas insist the process effectively repels liquids like water, soda or alcohol, keeping your device operational in conditions that would normally wreck it. (Source: singularityhub.com)

They also claim the coating is so thin that users won't notice any difference between a treated, waterproof phone and an untreated one.

Liquipel Offers Nano-coating for $60

Liquipel describes its service as a "revolutionary process that applies a waterproof coating to your electronic device to protect them in the event of accidental exposure to liquids." (Source: tested.com)

For now, there are some notable differences in the markets these three firms are targeting. HzO and P2i are trying to woo manufacturers to use their coating process when building smartphones for retail sale. They expect to sign deals of this kind within the next year, making nano-coating a permanent part of the future smartphone experience.

Liquipel is currently offering its service to everyday consumers, meaning users right now can have their current smartphone nano-coated for about $60.

The company says it can perform the procedure only on certain phones, so double-check to make sure your device is on their approved list before sending in your money and your device.

The list is a relatively short one right now, including such devices as the iPhone 3, iPhone 4, HTC Evo 4G, HTC MyTouch, HTC Thunderbolt, Motorola Droid and Samsung Charge. For a complete listing, please click here.