Finnish firm's nanocoating could make your next laptop smudge-free

A mystery company with a "market capitalization in the trillions" is involved

by · TechSpot

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Forward-looking: A small Finnish company has announced a new supply agreement with a major corporation for an innovative fingerprint-resistant coating, set to be applied to over a million laptops and tablets. While the client remains unnamed, Optitune notes that the company has a market capitalization in the trillions.

The technology in question is a proprietary polysiloxane nanocoating formulation developed by Optitune. This ultra-thin, invisible layer can be applied to surfaces such as metal, glass, and plastics, enhancing device resilience against scratches, smudges, and fingerprint-induced dirt accumulation.

According to Optitune CEO Jussi Paulus, over a million devices will ship to consumers with this invisible fingerprint-resistant nanocoating already applied starting in early 2025. The company claims this innovation will result in clearer screens, fewer distracting smudges, and an overall improved tactile feel that lasts significantly longer than current uncoated devices. Optitune also highlights the coating's "best-in-class" abrasion resistance, as well as its chemical and temperature stability.

Perhaps most impressively, Optitune's so-called trillion-dollar partner has chosen to retroactively apply its nanocoating across existing product lineups. This means customers may not need to wait for future models to benefit from the technology – they could experience it on current, more affordable devices as well.

Paulus also highlighted the nanocoating's environmentally sustainable profile as a key advantage. Optitune was the first to market a fluorine-free polymer for this application, and the company claims that the coating's ultra-thin, nanometer-scale thickness, coupled with the absence of primer usage, drastically reduces chemical waste and its carbon footprint compared to other coatings.

As for the identity of this trillion-dollar tech titan, the details remain scarce, but there are clues. With only a handful of publicly traded companies boasting trillion-dollar market caps, potential partners are narrowed to names like Apple, Microsoft, and Google.

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However, Optitune's announcement specifically mentions "tablets" as recipients of the coating, which may rule out Microsoft, as it doesn't currently offer a dedicated tablet device. Adding to the speculation, Optitune's promotional image prominently features Apple iPads, MacBooks, and iPhones. Even a Samsung Galaxy device makes a cameo. While a non-disclosure agreement may prevent Optitune from naming its partner, all will be revealed when the technology launches next year.