Acer to quit selling in U.S. stores

Acer, Taiwan's largest computer maker, will quit selling its PCs in U.S. stores and instead will sell them directly over the Internet, according to the Associated Press.

Acer's U.S. subsidiary, Acer America, will focus more on sales to small- and medium-sized businesses, the company said in a statement, noting its sales to business customers soared 63 percent last year, the Associated Press reported.

Acer America has lost more than $200 million in the past decade. Its losses amounted to $71 million in 1997 and $50 million in 1998. The parent company has recently been on the upswing, posting record sales late last year. (See related story.)

Acer's Vice President Peng Chin-pin said the company is expected to retain its place as one of the world's top 10 personal computer makers by tapping the U.S. business computer market and with stronger marketing efforts in Europe and Asia, AP reported.