P2i at Mobile World Congress

In some ways, Mobile World Congress (MWC) is like a storm, descending on Barcelona each year, bringing thousands of the world’s leading mobile technology experts and brands, to the four day event. 

From dawn we begin to congregate at the exhibition center, like ants scurrying to be in the nest before the rain hits - only to return to the outside world again at dusk, looking like a wave of zombies, exhausted from the days exciting events.

Inside the halls the bright lights show off extravagant displays with the latest model phones and tablets for all to see. There is one booth that stands out as being a little different this year. The feature on this booth is not a phone per say but … a toilet. 

At MWC P2i is previewing its very latest technology. Named Dunkable™, this tech provides protection against accidental submergence, offering what is known in the industry as an IPx7 rating. This means the phone can survive being under one meter of water for half an hour. 

See for yourself in this video as P2i's Chief Technical Officer (the guy who invented the technology) dunks a phone in the loo:

To toilet or not to toilet?

We all know that smartphones and tablets are becoming an integral part of everyday life – and as a new member of the “I didn’t seem to need one before Christmas, but now Santa bought me a tablet I don’t know how I lived without it” crew, than I must say I have found myself taking it into some strange environments. 

I mean, I would never take my precious camera into a steamy kitchen and put it down on a damp, cluttered bench top next to the hazards of a glass of wine, while I stir my pasta. But when you’re in the middle of running through the streets of London escaping the grasp of the underworld bosses in the latest crime thriller novel, than its easy to forget the dangers lurking in your own kitchen. 

And if the statistics are to be believed than I am not alone. Apparently in 2011 39% of us were using our phones while going to the bathroom, causing a staggering 19% of us to drop them down the loo. But not to worry, because apparently 14% of us actually wash our phones and our hands when were done!

© Oxford Scientific Films and Terra Mater Factual Studios

Well it’s no wonder water damage is one of the leading causes of permanent phone malfunction, and why manufacturers are doing all they can to make sure that their phones last the lifetime of your contract. 

At P2i we provide a splash-proof nano-coating protection to Motorola and Alcatel ONE TOUCH phones which lowers the phone's internal and external surface energy. This means any moisture or liquids that come into contact with the phone are repelled away, instead of being drawn into the device. You can see the tech in action on the Motorola XOOM 2 tablet in the video below:

P2i Presents: The Repellent Files

You may be wondering what the title means. Well, here at P2i we are often asked what other products our technology could be applied to. And this is a question that is regularly brought up by people who have witnessed our tissue demonstration as well:

So this got us thinking and the idea of The Repellent Files were born.

So what are The Repellent Files?

Each week we will upload a new video to YouTube of a different, normally water absorbent item that has been treated with our liquid repellent nano-coating to see how well it copes when subjected to water or other liquids.

In our first file posted yesterday, we investigated whether a teabag, coated with our nanotechnology, could keep the water clear once boiling hot water was poured over it. To ensure it was an even test, we had a regular teabag available as well.

Want to know what happened? Well, have a watch of the video below and you can see the result for yourself:

The Verdict:

Thumbs Up! Although it is not very good if you want a cup of tea, but the test shows that our coating can stop a teabag acting as it should by successfully repelling the water around it.

If you have any suggestions for items that can be put to the test, do let us know. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube where we will be posting the next file.

Find out more about how our technology works by visiting: www.p2i.com/technology