Invention aims to clean up dirty phone talk (VIDEO)

Neal Augenstein, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – With more of us admitting to toilet-texting, the developers of PhoneSoap are trying to keep smartphones both germ-free and fully charged.

Still in the prototype and funding stage, PhoneSoap claims to sanitize a cellphone while charging it, using ultraviolet light used in hospitals.

PhoneSoap’s makers say they began the project after hearing reports that smartphones have 18 times more harmful bacteria than the handle of a public toilet.

Rather than simply charging a cellphone overnight, a user would insert the phone into a small metal box. PhoneSoap’s makers say the light “penetrates the cell wall of the bacteria and disrupts its DNA, effectively killing it.”

The prototype includes both a micro USB cord and Apple’s 30-pin USB cord for charging.

PhoneSoap’s founders have launched a Kickstarter project to help fund their innovation. According to their Kickstarter page, they set a goal of $18,000, and have raised nearly $30,000.

Check out a video explaining PhoneSoap below or at this link:

Follow Neal Augenstein and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up