IBM Plans New Software Division

IBM has plans to announce a new business unit within its software division that will focus on developing software products for the Internet by the end of the year.

The new division is being created in order to speed up the process of providing Net-related products to consumers, according to IBM spokeswoman Judy Radlinsky. "This division is another way for us to exploit the Net," she said.

IBM plans to include such existing products as software tools used to create sites, security software, and its Web Explorer software in the new division. Company officials would not comment on products in development.