Linux e-mail and calendaring vendor Scalix Inc. has joined the nonprofit Open Source Development Labs to help push the implementation of desktop Linux.

San Mateo, Calif.-based Scalix will become active in the organization"s data center and desktop Linux working groups, according to the OSDL. The Beaverton, Ore.-based group is a global consortium working to accelerate the adoption of Linux in corporate computing.

"E-mail has always played an important role in helping drive the adoption of new platforms, making it an important "killer app" for Linux," Julie Hanna Farris, founder and chief strategy officer of Scalix, said in a statement. " We look forward to working with OSDL and to helping them lead the adoption of Linux in the enterprise."

Scalix"s Linux e-mail server supports shared calendaring and advanced e-mail features for users running Microsoft Outlook and popular Web browsers, including Mozilla, Firefox and Internet Explorer, according to the company. Scalix"s messaging server can run side by side with proprietary systems such as Microsoft Exchange and with open-source applications to integrate a company"s existing IT infrastructure.

Last month, IT services and hardware vendor Unisys Corp. became the latest major IT vendor to join the OSDL, in a move to expand its involvement in Linux and open-source products.

Other OSDL members include Cisco Systems Inc., Computer Associates International Inc., Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp., NEC Corp., Red Hat Inc., Sun Microsystems Inc., SUSE Linux Inc. and Unilever PLC.