Also . . .

* Apple Computer Inc. fired an undisclosed number of sales employees as demand for computers slumps. Apple said the number of workers in sales is rising even with the job cuts because it is opening 25 retail stores this year and adding workers at CompUSA Inc. stores.

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* Sprint Corp. and Dell Computer Corp. agreed to use each other’s products to sell Web-management services to small and medium-size businesses. Sprint will use Dell computers and data-storage systems in its Web-management business. Dell will purchase telecommunications services from Sprint, the companies said.