U.S. computer giant Hewlett-Packard is ending production of its tablet computer and smartphones, and may spin off its personal computer division, as the company moves to bow out of the consumer business.

Hewlett-Packard also said Thursday it is in talks to buy the British software firm Autonomy for $10 billion.

HP said it will purchase all outstanding Autonomy shares for $42.11 each.

Hewlett-Packard has struggled to sell its TouchPad tablet computer and its smartphones, both of which are competing in a market crowded with iPhones and devices based on Google's Android system.

HP's moves resemble the reshuffling during the past decade of its rival IBM, which now makes most of its money from software and services.

Hewlett-Packard will still sell its equipment to business customers, just as IBM now does.