Zodiac Handheld Game Device Is Halted Fri Jul 29, 1:54 PM ET

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Tapwave Inc. has discontinued its Zodiac handheld video game machine, bringing an end to a device that beat Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news).`s PlayStation Portable to market but failed to capture much interest from consumers.

In an announcement posted on its Web site, Mountain View-based Tapwave said it also was discontinuing service and support for its Zodiac line as of July 25. A spokeswoman for Tapwave did not return a message seeking additional explanation.

``We thank you for your past interest and support and apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused,`` the post read.

Launched in 2003, the Zodiac player was based on the Palm operating system and attempted to combine the functionality of a PDA with a gaming machine.

It also integrated a digital music player, photo viewer and eBook reader in a 6.3-ounce gadget that sold for about $270.

But the device never caught on like the Nintendo Gameboy or the Sony PlayStation Portable, which was released in North America earlier this year.