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.