It was reportedly Steve Jobs' idea - Jobs checked out an early iPhone prototype and he simply wanted it to be more durable. He correctly concluded that there are simply too many unintelligent people who carry around their keys and their phone in the same pocket. Apple is now apparently shifting to sapphire glass, but Corning's Gorilla Glass is still used in hundreds of millions of phones and tablets.
So far the emphasis has been on making Gorilla Glass more durable, scratch resistant and less likely to shatter if users happen to drop their phones. However, Corning has now added some antimicrobial properties to its trademark product. The latest version of Gorilla Glass features an ionic silver agent integrated in the surface and it should inhibit the development of fungi, mould, algae, mildew and bacteria.
"This innovation combines best-in-class antimicrobial function without compromising Gorilla Glass properties. Our specialty glass provides an excellent substrate for engineering antimicrobial and other functional attributes to help expand the capabilities of our Corning Gorilla Glass and address the needs of new markets,” the company said in a statement.
Corning points out that foam sprays and various films exist today, but they are a temporary fix and many manufacturers advise users to stay away from them.
On the other hand, if your phone really does develop mildew or fungi, you should probably clean it a bit more often, with or without Corning's antimicrobial glass.
You can check out the video after the break.
