Harris & Harris Group, Inc., an early-stage, active investor in transformative nanotechnology companies, notes that Atelier Haute Communication, an expert in tailor-made mobile phones, has teamed up with Harris & Harris Group's portfolio company, HzO, Inc., creator of WaterBlock™, a nano-coating that offers water damage protection from the inside out for electronic devices.
The partnership will enable Atelier to incorporate WaterBlock™ in an exclusive model from its range of luxury smart phones. The first smart phone to feature WaterBlock™ will be the TAG Heuer RACER Sub-Nano, a limited edition, Android-based model and is expected to be available in April 2013.
"Corporate partnerships are often instrumental to our portfolio companies' efforts to commercialize their technology," said Douglas W. Jamison, Chief Executive Officer of Harris & Harris Group. "At Harris & Harris Group, we believe these types of corporate partnerships will be fundamental for us in realizing value in these start-up companies over the coming decades."
WaterBlock™ works by creating a strong barrier between the internal circuitry of a device and water without any additional bulk, weight, or changes to the phone's aesthetics. The barrier is a transparent, thin film applied only to the internal electronics allowing the phone to survive complete submersion. In tests, it has proven to protect a device even when submerged to a depth of one meter for significant durations. Over 50 different smart phone models with WaterBlock™ have been tested to date. HzO's press release can be viewed at http://www.hzoinside.com/2013/01/10/atelier-haute-communication-hzo-sign-deal-provide-cuttingedge-water-protection-technology-luxury-smart-phones/2361.