Submitted by Frank Macey on
The notion of a waterproof iPhone is laughable to anyone who's accidentally dropped their device in a pool or been stuck in a rainstorm. Apple has been clear when it comes to Apple Care claims that water damage is not covered, even going so far as to install liquid sensors in iPhones.
All this could be set to change if HzO succeeds in its efforts to get Apple to treat their devices with WaterBlock technology during the manufacturing process. HzO won this year's CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award for a nano-scale film barrier that repels water from sensitive electronics.
WaterBlock is almost invisible as it's made up of an incredibly thin layer of non-toxic organic material that prevents water from coming in contact with electrical parts on a molecular level. Even a treated iPhone looks exactly the same as an untreated device and no weight or bulk is added by the process. HzO claims that WaterBlock is designed for accidental immersion, even though test devices with the treatment have continued to operate after several hours underwater.
In addition to Apple, Samsung is also considering whether or not to use the technology on its mobile devices. Similar competing technology is being offered by two other companies. Motorola already uses Splash Guard (Aridion) from P2i on the Droid RAZR and the XYBOARD tablet. Liquipel is another waterproofing outfit that will treat your existing device to prevent water damage.
With all of these innovations heading in the same direction, we can expect several smartphones to include some version of the technology soon. Adding HzO during the manufacturing process would ensure that all components are protected from water. It's possible Apple will move forward with a waterproof iPhone 5 later this year, although the additional manufacturing expense has not been discussed.