Hybrid dealer/distributor, Elcom, plans to bundle all its ecommerce business into one wholly owned subsidiary called elcom.com, replacing existing online sales division Elcom Systems. It will continue to design and build technology, but will move the emphasis towards buying kit electronically. Elcom.com will go live this month and also add items such as office furniture and stationery to its portfolio of goods available over the Internet. Paul Rose, vice president of Elcom Systems Europe, compared the company’s need to launch the subsidiary as a separate company to Richard Branson’s enterprises. He said: "Like Branson, with his Virgin trains, a new business leads to alternative ways of gaining finance." But there were no plans for Elcom to launch a copy-cat around the world hot air balloon escapade. Rose added that Elcom Systems would continue as a software developer offering outsource procurement services, but would be merged into elcom.com to offer a more rounded business. ®