Intel Corp. will stop selling digital cameras, media players and Intel Play PC toys next year because sales didn't meet the company's expectations

Intel Corp. will stop selling digital cameras, media players and Intel Play PC toys next year because sales didn't meet the company's expectations, Intel confirmed Friday. The chipmaker said it is "winding down" its Connected Products Division, the part of the company that makes the consumer electronics products. "We had some success in these product categories, but business overall did not meet our long-term growth requirements. Our intent is to sell through the remaining inventory until the first quarter of 2002 and then quit the business," said Gillian Murphy, a Germany-based Intel spokeswoman. Intel won't disclose the size or location of the remaining inventory, but most products are sold worldwide. One of the products about to be discontinued, the Personal Audio Player 3000, was only introduced earlier this month in the U.S. Customer support will be available for "a period" beyond when a product is for sale, Murphy said. In addition to discontinuing the consumer products already on the market, Intel has also decided not to sell a Web Tablet Internet appliance touted by President and Chief Executive Officer Craig Barrett at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.