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Smartphones have long been known to be crawling with all sorts
of bacteria and microbes, but that “dirty” reputations is
getting a cleanup thanks to a UK startup that claims to have
created the world’s first antimicrobial smartphone.
The CAT S42 build under the Caterpillar brand is one of the
sturdiest and cleanest budget smartphones money can buy. Its
IP68 rating means it has total protection against dust and
water, and the manufacturer actually encourages users to wash
and sanitize their phones under running water. But starting in
2021, the CAT S42 will get an extra layer of protection thanks
to a new technology called “Biomaster antimicrobial technology”,
which supposedly stops the spread of germs.
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Developed by Bullitt, a company based in Reading England, the world’s
first antibacterial phone will use silver ions embedded in its casing
materials during the manufacturing process to stop the spread and
multiplication of pathogens.
Even though Biomaster technology doesn’t actively kill bacteria or
viruses, Bullit claims that it can reduce the number of bacteria on the
handheld by 80 per cent within 15 minutes and 99.9 per cent within 24
hours. Still the manufacturer emphasizes that the S42 should be
regularly washed with soaps and water, sanitizers, and even bleach, to
make sure it stays clean.
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“This is vital for those among our customers working within a health or
social care setting, and those visiting multiple sites for their job”
said Peter Cunningham, Vice President at Bullitt Group. “The addition of
antimicrobial product protection into the Cat S42 is another first for
Cat phones, and will make the Cat S42 safer for users – such an
important feature in the current climate.”
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Keep in mind that the CAT S42 is already in stores, but variants with
the Biomaster antimicrobial technology will only become available early
next year. |