Samsung Electronics to Stop Selling Laptop Computers In Europe

By Min-Jeong Lee 

SEOUL-- Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday it would stop selling laptop computers in Europe, citing the need to "quickly adapt to market needs and demands."

The move includes Chromebooks that run on Google Inc.'s Chrome operating system, which Samsung still offers in some other parts of the world.

"This is specific to the region--and is not necessarily reflective of conditions in other markets," the South Korean company said in a statement.

The discontinuation of its laptop business in Europe would mean Samsung will no longer have any traditional personal-computer offerings there, as the company doesn't sell desktop computers in the region.

Analysts don't expect the move to have a significant impact on Samsung's earnings, however, as its mobile business has been a much bigger business for the technology company.

Samsung doesn't break out results for the PC business, which is under the umbrella of its mobile unit. Analysts estimate Samsung's business in traditional PCs and laptops has been faltering in recent years with the advent of mobile computing devices.

As for the company's laptop business in other markets, Samsung said: "We will continue to thoroughly evaluate market conditions and will make further adjustments to maintain our competitiveness in emerging PC categories."

The company declined to comment on the number of laptops the company had been selling in Europe, or globally.

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