There was a time when you could go to a pool party and be humorously thrown in fully dressed. You’d climb out embarrassed, but only upset that you spilled your drink. Or remember the days when you can just go to the beach, rip your clothes off down to your bathing suit and go flying into the surf?? Today, with all of our tech gadgets, but more specifically our phones, we can’t be as free anymore. We now have to consider the elements around us when we leave our pants in the sand or stand poolside with a bunch of punk kids around. [pullquote_right]”The most practical use you’d probably get from this product is the ability to answer your phone with wet hands or being able to use it while it’s raining.”[/pullquote_right]

Fortunately, there are some options when it comes to waterproofing your phone so you can take it with you to the beach, the river or your neighbor’s backyard. The problem is that like any “protective” case  you buy for your phone, you instantly lose the attractiveness that steered you into getting the phone in the first place! Just take a look at some of these advanced waterproofing options for iPhone.[one-third][/one-third][one-third][/one-third][one-third-last][/one-third-last]

The problem I have with all these cases is that they’re cases. I don’t like cases on phones. I think they’re bulky, sometimes heavy and they detract greatly from the overall look and feel of your device. Plus, if you showed up at the beach carrying one of these things, people might think you have a problem with needing to stay connected all the time.

The Alternative

I just discovered this product yesterday and even though I haven’t tried it, I’ve seen what it can do and I love it. Imagine a completely waterproof phone without a case and without a protective bag. It’s being done by a company called Liqupel. What they do is apply a full treatment on your device, both inside and out. This patented technology creates a thin protective layer over every component inside the device protecting it from simple water spills to full submersion.

Currently, Liquipel only offers waterproofing services on the following devices (as of February 11, 2012):

• Apple iPod Shuffle
• Apple iPhone 4s
• Apple iPhone 4
• Apple iPhone 3g/s
• Galaxy S2 (T-Mobile)
• Galaxy S2 (AT&T)
• HTC Evo 4G
• HTC Evo Shift 4G
• HTC MyTouch 4G
• Motorola Droid X/X2
• Samsung Charge

Due to liabilities, Liquipel must still recommend that your device does not come in contact with water. As Liquipel puts it, while your device is protected from water, it’s still advised to take care of it as you normally would. The analogy is compared to that of buying a case for your phone just so you can throw it on the ground. The idea behind this product is to protect against accidental spillage or giving you the ability to take the device into the bathroom with you while you listen to tunes in the shower. Normally, steam from hot water can cause water damage.

My two cents

Clearly, this product is not meant to replace an actual waterproof case if you wish to take your phone swimming, surfing or jetskiing with you, but it’s an awesome way to protect your phone from accidental splashes of water near a pool or as the Liquipel demo video proves, minimal submersion (like a “friend” throwing you into said pool). The most practical use you’d probably get from this product is the ability to answer your phone with wet hands or being able to use it while it’s raining.

I haven’t actually tried this product yet because they don’t offer it for my Samsung Focus, so this post is less of an endorsement and more of an informational guide. But if anyone does try it out, please let me know how it goes in the comments or on the forums somewhere! For more information and to purchase, please visit Liquipel.com.