CrossPad
| Company type | Product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronics, Digital notetaking devices |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | A. T. Cross Company, IBM |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Fate | Withdrawn from market |
| Products | Digital notetaking device (CrossPad, CrossPad XP) |
The CrossPad is a digital notetaking device launched in 1997 through a collaboration between the American pen manufacturer A. T. Cross Company and IBM. This device features a pen equipped with a radio transmitter that detects its location on the pad, while simultaneously allowing users to write with ink on paper placed atop the surface. The pad itself includes a small screen that displays command responses, and six buttons designed for use with the specialized pen.
In September 1998, A. T. Cross introduced a more compact variant known as the CrossPad XP.
Although the technology was pioneering, both the CrossPad and its XP model did not achieve widespread commercial success and were ultimately withdrawn from the market in April 2001. The lack of sales led to a class action lawsuit against the product.