1st washable smartphone to hit market

Tired of those unsightly smudges and other dirt on your bacteria-laden smartphone?

A Japanese company says it has the solution with what it describes as the world's first smartphone that can be washed with soap and water.

Waterproof smartphones have been on the market for a while. But telecom company KDDI says its new "Digno rafre" phone - to be launched in Japan next week - is the only one that can withstand a soapy bath. "Our development team washed the smartphone more than 700 times to test its durability," a company spokesman said.