Hewlett-Packard Co, the world's number two PC maker, said on Tuesday it will stop selling digital cameras in Asia as it pursues business areas with greater potential in the region. HP, which last month announced plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce under new Chief Executive Mark Hurd, is leaving the digital camera business in Asia "to focus its investment around home photo printing, which is a high-growth area in the region," the company said in a statement to Reuters.
HP remains committed to its digital camera business, where it has experienced growth and success in North America, (Europe) and Latin America, the company said.
Asia, and Japan in particular, is home to some of the world's best known digital camera brands, including Pentax, Nikon, Canon and Konica Minolta.
News of the withdrawal comes just days after Hewlett-Packard said it would stop selling Apple Computer Inc's popular iPod portable music players under its own brand.
That move ended an unusual but short-lived alliance between the two companies. Apple said HP made the move because iPods did not fit into its strategy.
Since taking the helm at HP, Hurd has moved to simplify and streamline the company.