United, which last month cut its online spending for the third time this-year, closed the e-commerce side of its agricultural website Farmgate.co.uk.
The media company has also abandoned plans to launch further business websites in the healthcare, furniture and entertainment markets.
United's online business plan was based on providing news and industry-specific content over the web alongside e-commerce services.
Last month, the company cut online spending to £20m for 2001 from an original £60m. The company has refused to give details of job cuts.
The cuts come as United boosts its news distribution service PR Newswire with the acquisition of 50% of Dutch national news agency Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau Pers Support for €6.5m (£3.9m).
ANPPS was launched by the Dutch national news agency ANP in 1996. It serves 8,000 journalists at Dutch newspapers and broadcasters.
Vicky Unwin, managing director of PR Newswire in Europe said, "ANPPS is the leading news release distributor in the Netherlands, making it a perfect investment for PR Newswire. The venture will offer the right combination of local customer service and global reach that communicators throughout the Benelux region need to connect to their audiences."