Also

* IBM Corp. agreed to buy MRO Software Inc. for $740 million, giving IBM a niche provider of software and services to help customers, including nuclear power plants and oil companies, make the most efficient use of industrial assets.

* In the latest boost to its dominance in portable music players, Apple Computer Inc. is teaming with General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. to integrate the iPod music player into car audio systems.