P2i's Ion-Mask coating could make waterproof phones an everyday occurrence

Plenty of waterproof phones and other small weatherproof devices have made it off the assembly lines and into our clumsy clutches, but P2i, a small spinoff company using tech originated within the Defence Science and Technology Lab in England, could be bringing waterproof gadgets to the masses. The Ion-Mask is a special invisible coating that is chemically bonded to the device and repels water. It should allow waterproofing to make it into devices that are too small for the seals that are usually used to do the trick. Devices can have joins and gaps coated for a general level of water repellence, or have individual components treated for even more protection. The tech was originally designed to repel toxic vapors and liquids from soldier uniforms, and could also be making its way into athletic shoes. Three leading phone makers are apparently in discussions over using the tech in upcoming phones.

[computer.dude.28 @ Dec 31st 2007 12:06PM]

Does this mean they could coat the internal circuit boards without even touching the casing? That would be awesome. I could toss my phone in the lake and watch my parents freak out ;)

[Andy @ Dec 31st 2007 12:15PM]

It doesn't make your phone float... good luck trying to swim and find it at the bottom.

[computer.dude.28 @ Dec 31st 2007 12:21PM]

Beach?

[Scott @ Dec 31st 2007 3:02PM]

Does anyone know the name of the cell phone pictured in the story?

[Hung @ Dec 31st 2007 6:55PM]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2034585,00.asp

[MacroEQ @ Dec 31st 2007 12:15PM]

If this technology is as good as it makes out to be then why not go further and apply it to laptops and pc keyboards.

[mattclarkie @ Dec 31st 2007 12:32PM]

Problems I can see are the I/O. You would have to water-proof the I/Os, but would this prevent them working by acting as an Insulator. If this stuff still allows conductance then it would be fine.

[Anthony @ Dec 31st 2007 1:04PM]

If it allows conduction wouldn't that let a device short out when submerged?

[Wwhat @ Dec 31st 2007 5:22PM]

It would short-circuit immediately when it was applied to contacts obviously, without needing any submerging, if it was conductive.
So assuming the stuff isn't conductive as one would expect you could put something on the actual pins to protect them and then apply the stuff to prevent water/dirt creeping into the device, seeing most pins are goldplated they would be corrosive-proof anyway even without the stuff, only issue being the rim of the connectors that are often not rustproof but do require contact for shielding.
There's always a choice of using a piece of rubber to close the ports though, and to have the screen/case dirtproof is nice too.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 31st 2007 12:17PM]

Yet another example of how the technology designed for humans to kill humans in wars...benefits mankind on the whole.

[paragraph @ Dec 31st 2007 12:20PM]

Don't you think thats taking it a little too far? It's a waterproofer for clothing, not a submachine gun...

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i'm curious to see how cheaply this can be done, and how effective it is. I've seen that phone and i've heard it's pretty solid, but i'm interested to see how it will work on bigger devices.

[vaiyach @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:39AM]

I believe he is thinking of dynamite...
Or not.

[computer.dude.28 @ Dec 31st 2007 12:20PM]

Beach?

[cortes.john @ Dec 31st 2007 9:43PM]

sand?

[tamoghno @ Dec 31st 2007 12:24PM]

i want this , in my N95. no no , i dont want it ,i NEED it.

[Senor_Tom @ Dec 31st 2007 12:27PM]

cool, but tbh he only time anyone i know had a phone in water is either the loo or drunk in a swimming pool.

[Yevon @ Dec 31st 2007 12:36PM]

"Devices can have joins and gaps"

Do you mean "joints"?

[Nick @ Dec 31st 2007 12:43PM]

Hey, if tables can have joins (both inner and outer), then why not devices too?

[Kllr Wolf @ Dec 31st 2007 1:04PM]

"joints" would be the parts like hinges. A join is where two parts meet, such and the seam in the plastic casing such as between the back and front of the keyboard enclosure.

[blade417 @ Dec 31st 2007 1:09PM]

isn't that kinda similar to what rain-x does for your windshield?

[Shawin @ Dec 31st 2007 1:40PM]

Maybe that's what's been holding Apple. The 3G iPhone will be waterproof and sweat-proof lollz.
I so wanna see the ads they'll make for that.

[Natedog @ Dec 31st 2007 2:03PM]

"I used to have to carry an iPod, camera, phone for calling people, phone for receiving calls, phone for texting, phone for emails, laptop to do who knows what the hell, my dignity, AND a sweat rag... The iPhone does all this, except the dignity part."

[Fesh @ Dec 31st 2007 2:07PM]

not everything on the face of the bloody planet is about the damn iphone.

[Shawin @ Dec 31st 2007 2:26PM]

Not everything on the planet, but everything concerning phones must have something to do with the iPhone.

[Paul @ Dec 31st 2007 2:31PM]

My iPhone saved a cat from a burning tree

[Wwhat @ Dec 31st 2007 2:48PM]

Steve had a hell of a time explaining why he put it on fire though.

[analogue @ Dec 31st 2007 3:06PM]

But did you catch it after knocking the cat out of the tree?

[Greg @ Dec 31st 2007 3:14PM]

As a user that just wants a simple durable phone, I picked up the Casio G'zOne a while back. And it does all that it purports to do. The sound is only so-so, and it took a week or two to get used to the size. But after adjusting to the size and learning how to best hold the phone to optimize the sound, I've actually gotten to liking it.

[Fulggy @ Dec 31st 2007 4:05PM]

Another option would be a Nokia 5140i if you can still find one, really tough little buggers.

[Mark Leach @ Dec 31st 2007 4:51PM]

So can this protect the USB ports and such? And is it true if a gadget is underwater that it shouldn't be able to conduct?

[ethan @ Dec 31st 2007 8:45PM]

Um, something tells me this is either going to be grossly overpriced or never available:

Why? Doesn't motorola WANT people to sink their cell? That just means they buy a new one. We have people come in all the time askin for a new phone cause of water damage. If they waterproof them, then I think they'd lose too much moo laa.

[Wwhat @ Dec 31st 2007 9:27PM]

If forcing people into buying new ones by nefarious means was their objective they could just make parts in it fail after a year, and be non-servicable, like philips for instance likes to do, and a***e.
(Name censored because of potential murder on me by apple fanbois)

[Kenneth Sanchez @ Jan 3rd 2008 9:26AM]

I believe it will only be water resistant, not completely waterproof or submergable. So, a soldier will be able to apply this to his Battle Dress Uniform, take a swim and not have to worry about wet dripping clothes? LOL