Mobile Phones feature antimicrobial protection.
Press Release Summary:
With AgION antimicrobial, iDEN® Models i835 and i880 are protected from microorganisms such as mold and mildew to help resist odor. Comprised of naturally occurring silver ions, antimicrobial is incorporated into plastic of painted surfaces and keypads of phones. AgION compound provides protection by releasing silver ions to surface at slow and steady rate, creating self-cleaning surface that provides safe, continuous, long-term protection from microbes.
Original Press Release:
Motorola Introduces New Handset Models Featuring AgION Antimicrobial Protection
i835 and i880 models join the i870 as mobile phones that feature the natural silver-based antimicrobial coating
PLANTATION, Fla., and WAKEFIELD, Mass., Nov. 16 /-- Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today highlighted that the AgION(R) antimicrobial has now been incorporated into additional iDEN(R) phones. The recently launched i835 and i880 handsets join the i870, introduced last year, to Motorola's growing portfolio of phones that feature AgION's antimicrobial.
The antimicrobial, developed by AgION Technologies, Inc., is incorporated into the coating and protects the phones by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms such as mold and mildew to help resist odor. Motorola is the first and only manufacturer to offer mobile devices that feature AgION's antimicrobial technology for product protection.
"Motorola is committed to seeking the latest technology and useful features for our mobile phones," said Peter Aloumanis, vice president and general manager, U.S. Markets, Motorola's iDEN(R) Mobile Devices. "AgION was so well received last year on the i870 that we decided to make it available on a broader range of iDEN devices in more markets worldwide."
The AgION antimicrobial is incorporated into the plastic of the painted surfaces and the keypads of the phones. It has been proven effective against a range of mold, algae and other microorganisms. The antimicrobial is comprised of naturally occurring silver ions. Silver has long been recognized for its antimicrobial properties and has been used to fight microbes for many years.
The AgION compound provides protection from microorganisms by releasing silver ions to the surface at a slow and steady rate. This creates a self-cleaning surface that provides safe, continuous, long-term protection from microbes. Studies have shown that surfaces treated with AgION's antimicrobial result in a 99.99 percent reduction in the number of microbes within a one-hour period than what is normally found on untreated surfaces.(i) While the AgION antimicrobial helps protect the phone's treated surfaces, it does not protect users against viruses or other germs.
"We are excited to continue our work with Motorola to provide their mobile phones with our silver-based antimicrobial protection," stated Ginger Merritt, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for AgION Technologies. "Silver is a completely natural antimicrobial and one of the few antimicrobials approved for human contact, so this feature will help decrease the number of microbes on the handset's treated surfaces in a safe and effective manner."
About Motorola
Motorola is a Fortune 100 global communications leader that provides seamless mobility products and solutions across broadband, embedded systems and wireless networks. In your home, auto, workplace and all spaces in between, seamless mobility means you can reach the people, things and information you need, on the go. Seamless mobility harnesses the power of technology convergence and enables smarter, faster, cost-effective and flexible communication. Motorola had sales of US $31.3 billion in 2004. For more information: www.motorola.com and for images: www.motorolacollective.com
About AgION Technologies, Inc.
AgION Technologies, located in Wakefield, Massachusetts, is a leader in providing customized antimicrobial solutions based on silver that continuously inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and fungus. AgION's antimicrobial technology is used in the consumer products, construction, food and water, textiles, and healthcare industries and has been incorporated into a variety of products including cell phones, shoes, keyboards, pens, water filters, air conditioning and heating units, medical catheters, ice machines and faucet handles. The company also offers a disinfectant and virucide, AgION SilverClene24(TM), which has been proven effective against a variety of
bacteria and viruses including HIV-1, Rhinovirus, Influenza, and Poliovirus. AgION's customers include many leading brands such as Motorola, Logitech, AK Steel, Carrier, DuPont, Honeywell, Adidas, Sanford/Paper Mate, Ice-O-Matic, Scotsman, Stanley Bostitch and Oster. Since the company's founding in 1997, AgION Technologies has led the market for safe, effective, long-lasting, antimicrobial protection with support from private equity funds and strategic partners including BASF Venture Capital, H.B. Fuller Ventures, SAM Private Equity, Motorola Ventures and Paladin Capital Group. For more information about AgION Technologies, visit www.agion-tech.com .
(i) "Rapid Reduction of S. aureus populations on SS surfaces by zeolite ceramic coatings containing silver and zinc ions", K. R. Bright, et al., University of Arizona, Journal of Hospital Infection (2002) 52:307-309.
