Golden Shellback waterproofs your cell phone

Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:42PM EDT

See Comments (102)

Dropping your cell phone on the street? Not a good feeling. Dropping your cell phone in a giant, filth-ridden puddle in the street? That's the beginning of a bad day.

A new coating and application process developed by the Northeast Maritime Institute makes your cell phone (and other gadgets) resistant to harsh liquid conditions without having to use any exterior casing or other device. The special coating is nearly undetectable and does not interfere with any original functions on the device.

From the website:

Golden Shellback coating has an excellent ability to repel oils, synthetic fluids, hazardous materials, dust, dirt and water based solutions. Low surface tension values, such as water and oils will bead and drain freely from coated surfaces. The process produces a uniform, continuous, near hermetic coating that resists rain and humidity. Electronics casually exposed to water continue to work even after exposure. The coating is readily applied and not generally considered to be removable. Repairs are made using abrasive methods.

Amazing, yes. If you'd like a jaw-dropping video performance, head over to Golden Shellback's website for a video demonstration, and trust me, it really is jaw dropping. (Well, if a fully functioning BlackBerry dunked in a tank of water is considered jaw-dropping for you.)

Pricing and availability are still unknown, but expect to hear more about it very soon.

Golden Shellback - Thanks to Jonny Le for the tip.

Top 5 Posts

Comments on Golden Shellback waterproofs your cell phone

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  • 26 Posted by thewainer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    If the phone is dropped in fresh water, just drop it into a glass of isopropyl alchohol. Let soak for a moment and then place near a fan to help the alchohol evaporate. It will draw the water out and not damage the electronics, in fact isopropyl alchohol is how they clean the wires at the factory. Does not work if the phone is dropped in ocean water however.

  • 27 Posted by anthonydlawton on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    big deal, my phone has been through the washer and dryer TWICE, and it still works good as ever.

  • 28 Posted by notorioustmas on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    It doesn't matter if you drop it in water and it magically works, it's the corrosion you have to worry about, lol...

  • 29 Posted by lawrencetavel on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    who knows of a new and available flip-style smartphone like the old Motorola 220 or the Cingular 3125 that will sych with your desktop?

  • 30 Posted by elidet_reyes on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm reading through these comments and I find it amusing that dropping the phone in the toilet is pretty common.

  • 31 Posted by mallie1989 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    i dropped my phone in the snow and found it two weeks later the screen doesnt work but i can still call and receive calls.

  • 33 Posted by angelogirl1227 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    I WISH I WOULD HAVE HEARD OF THIS LAST FRIDAY BEFORE MY PHONE FELL INTO THE TOILET!!!

  • 34 Posted by ivan9329 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I dropped my phone in a pool, someone told me to dip it in rubbing alcohol and let it dry out. unfortunately by the time he told me i had already taken it apart and it was useless so i never got to see if that really works or not.

  • 35 Posted by bixalang on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    I left my Blackberry Curve in my jean pocket and forgot about it. I put it through a full wash cycle and it came out in 3 pieces. The LCD screen was all cracked looking and it was full of water. I put it in a bowl of rice for 3 days and amazingly enough, the screen looks like new and it works better now than it did before.

  • 37 Posted by dallasman2003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    I jumped into a pool with my Blackjack II and was submerged for over 5 minutes with water throughout the cell phone and under the screen. I dried it out in the sun and with a hair dryer. All I had to do was replace the battery and it works like new. Don't waste your money on crap like this. The miracle of modern electronics.

  • 38 Posted by tabby_kelly on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wow. People really are that naive. Most electronics are fine when exposed to water/soda/etc. as long as you let stuff completely dry out before attempting to turn it on, most of the time it works just fine. Someone spilled coke all over my phone, I literally rinsed it out in the sink, took out the battery and let it dry for a day. good as new. But Im sure they will make plenty-o'money off people that don't know better.

  • 39 Posted by cindyszoo56 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I recently dropped my cell in a cup of H2O & paniked! Luckily a friend told me to put it in a baggie with rice, it worked thankfully, it took approx. 12 to 24 hrs, but all the water was gone!!

  • 40 Posted by prettypam2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    (Just an FYI) I dropped my Nokia phone in a pool (10 feet deep), it was down there for a while because the water was cold and I didn't want to jump in. However after abotu 7 to 8 minutes somebody called me and it was ringing underwater. Then my neice finally swam to the bottom and got it. It's been working fine every since and that's was 3 weeks ago. I have a camera phone and it still takes pics and everything. It does have a silver cover, but again, it's a Nokia.

  • 41 Posted by elainehn2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just this past weekend, I jumped into a swimming pool with my older model, plain jane, Nokia phone tucked into my swimsuit. I'd forgotten it was there. I got out pretty quickly and AMAZINGLY the phone worked perfectly ... no damage at all ... neither immediately or now, 3 days later!

  • 42 Posted by dano_l23j on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    i droped my zune in a cup of water and tryed to turn it on 6 hours later and it made a poping noise then i pluged in into the charge 3 months later and it works very random

  • 43 Posted by yence68 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ive had a water proof phone for the last 2 years. Casio makes one.

  • 44 Posted by ryanadamkennedy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    i've been lucky enough to have gotten my cell out of the bottom of a rain-filled ditch & still have it work like nothing happened. the only reason i found it was because someone was calling me at the time & i could see the light flashing underwater.

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