ISD’s ChipCorder^® Technology Enables Voice Messaging In TA2000 Security Alarm Telephone

SAN JOSE, Calif., January 9, 1997 — ISD (Information Storage Devices, Inc.) (NASDAQ: ISDI), a leading supplier of semiconductor voice record and playback solutions, today announced that TelAlert Inc., a Canada-based security products company, is using ISD’s ChipCorder^® technology for an identification message function in its TA2000 Security Alarm Telephone.

“This latest design win is another example of the extensible nature of ISD’s technology,” said Karin Bootsma, managing director of marketing at ISD. “With voice messaging capabilities flourish in the cellular phone and consumer electronics market, the integration of ISD’s semiconductors into security products, such as TelAlert’s Security Alarm Telephone, was a natural progression.”

The TA2000 Security Alarm Telephone alerts family, friends or neighbors who can contact help in a fire, medical or intruder emergency. When the alarm on a TelAlert smoke detector, motion detector or a key chain is activated, it sends a radio frequency signal to the TA2000 Phone, which in turn begins calling a series of nine pre-programmed phone numbers of friends, neighbors or family members. Once the call is received, the ISD1420 chip inside the phone plays a pre-recorded message corresponding to the emergency such as “There’s a fire in the house! Call the fire department!” The person receiving the call can then activate a 2-way speakerphone to ensure the call is not a false alarm, or can immediately contact the appropriate help. The ISD chip holds multiple messages totaling up to 20-second in duration which are either pre-recorded or can be customized by the user.

“The ISD chip gives our customers the peace of mind that they will be able to summon help, even if they cannot get to the phone,” said Thomas Lenahan, vice president of sales at TelAlert Inc. “We found the ChipCorder solution to be a clear choice for our products, given their established credibility in other markets.”

The TA2000 Security Alarm Telephone is available immediately and retails for $249.99 including a Telephone Security Base, Wireless Motion Detector and two Key Chain Remotes. Additional add-on accessories such as a Medical Alert Button, Smoke Detector and Door/Window Contacts are also available.

CES attendees can view the ChipCorder product line at booth #20760, or the TelAlert TA2000 Security Alarm Telephone at booth #21824, both located at the Sands Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

ChipCorder Technology

ISD’s patented ChipCorder technology is a single-chip solution for voice recording and playback in a variety of consumer, communications and industrial applications. It uses a proprietary “multilevel” storage methodology in which one of more than 250 distinct voltage levels are precisely stored per memory cell. The technology enables voice and audio signals to be stored directly in their natural form into nonvolatile EEPROM memory cells. This provides approximately eight times more storage space for any given memory size than the alternative two-level, digitized signal storage technology. Additionally, ChipCorder products eliminate the need for external A/D and D/A circuits, providing a single-chip, solid-state solution that requires no software, unlike other alternatives which are more difficult to integrate.

Furthermore, ChipCorder technology offers high-quality, voice reproduction because the voice signal is stored in its direct form and not encoded or compressed. It is the only single-chip, non-volatile solution available.

To date, ChipCorder technology has been incorporated into hundreds of products, including cellular phones, pagers, personal voice organizers, telephone answering devices, voice “message pads,” games, toys, interactive books, alarms, point-of-sale displays, novelty items and personalized gifts. It is also found in industrial announcement/annunciator systems, instrumentation and building security systems.

About TelAlert Inc.

TelAlert Inc. finances the final stages of development and marketing of technologically advanced home security products. The company is located at Suite 501, 933-17 Ave. SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2T 5R6, Canada. Telephone: (403) 541-1306. Fax: (403) 541-1135.

About ISD

ISD, a leading supplier of semiconductor voice record and playback solutions, provides essential products to the communications marketplace using its proprietary multilevel storage and related technologies.

Note: ChipCorder is a registered trademark of ISD. All other products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.