SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 1997--Norris Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NCII) Tuesday announced that it has filed a patent with multiple claims for a device designed to play back CD-quality music using a postage stamp-size flash memory card.

Called Flashback Audio, the entire playback device can be as small as a standard Type II PCMCIA card and completely digital with no moving parts.

Flashback Audio uses SanDisk's CompactFlash as the storage media. Norris Communications developed the technology from advances in its patented Norris Flashback digital voice recorder and MicroOS operating system.

MicroOS is the only operating system for flash memory that has a data transfer rate limited only by flash memory write speed. The operating system therefore supports the recording speeds required to write directly to primary memory without intermediary memory. This eliminates the need for a high-capacity buffer, allowing rapid, efficient and economical use of flash memory.

The unit will feature a sophisticated compression algorithm to assure the most efficient use of flash memory.

Nelson Chan, SanDisk vice president of marketing, said: "The Flashback Audio is an ideal application for SanDisk CompactFlash memory cards. With its small size, durability and low power requirements, CompactFlash was crucial in enabling the development of this audio device. We believe the Flashback Audio has mass popularity appeal and will be a terrific-selling consumer electronics product when it is launched."

"Before the use of digital memory, there was never a playback technology completely devoid of mechanical parts," said Elwood G. "Woody" Norris, chairman of Norris Communications. "Cassettes, CDs, laser discs and all other playback devices require some mechanical component, which is typically what wears out and breaks. This amazing new playback unit is based entirely on solid-state technology and will feature capacity comparable to a standard CD player. It also features instant random access to recorded audio, eliminates the effects of vibration, and is computer and Internet compatible. Yet it can be barely larger than a credit card."

"In keeping with our OEM strategy, Norris Communications intends to license this CD-quality audio technology to manufacturers who wish to create new products or integrate the technology into existing products," said Fred Falk, Norris president. "This is the type of technology that can be incorporated into HPC (palmtop) computers to give them CD-quality audio playback without adding significant size or weight. Flashback Audio can be added to pagers, cellular phones and other types of portable consumer devices to extend their functions and use."

The company has a scheduled public demonstration of Flashback Audio on July 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Downtown in San Diego. Private demonstrations are available to qualified parties upon request.

Norris Communications Inc. is a Delaware-based corporation. It trades on the NASDAQ (small cap) stock market under the symbol "NCII." Norris Communications markets original equipment manufacturer products worldwide including the MicroOS imbedded systems software operating system, Multichip modules, private label products and custom-designed products.

The company has patented the Flashback Digital Voice Recorder, sound recording techniques and features, which position it as a leader in digital flash memory audio recording. The company operates out of its world headquarters in Poway, in San Diego County. -0-

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to technology and product development that may impact on future results and the future viability of the company. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors such as future products and results, technological shifts, potential technical difficulties that could delay new products, competition, pricing pressures, and the uncertainty of market acceptance of new products by distributors and end-user customers.

CONTACT: Norris Communications, San Diego

Wendy Ravenel, 619/679-1504