TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

IBM to Launch Consumer Division: The company said it plans to create a division to consolidate its consumer products into one area and it is expected to be launched sometime this fall. “We are in the process of creating a consumer division to address all the products that are aimed at the consumer,” said Fred McNeese, an IBM spokesman. “We are right now in the middle of getting it organized and hope to be announcing something more specific in the fall,” he said. IBM said it is too early to say what products will be included in the division. Products likely will include its home computer line, called Aptiva.