Messaging software vendor Zimbra has signed up distributor Interactive Ideas to help build its UK channel and the two firms claim interest in open source technologies is on the up.

Interactive Ideas will focus on the Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) which uses an AJAX web client. The product integrates email, contacts, shared calendar, messaging, tasks and online document sharing.

Built on open source technology, the Zimbra server runs on Linux and Mac OS, as well as virtualised platforms. It can be deployed on-site or firms can opt to implement it as a hosted offering.

Interactive Ideas managing director Mike Trup revealed his firm was building up its open source vendor portfolio as demand for the technology increased.

“Interactive Ideas has maintained a long and profitable partnership with Red Hat for more than a decade and has witnessed a steady increase in interest in not only Red Hat solutions, but open source technologies in general," he said.

"With the addition of Ingres and now Zimbra, Interactive Ideas aim to make a portfolio of enterprise-ready solutions based on the subscription-based open source model to our reseller channel and provide them the required support and service needed to understand and profit from this emerging market.”

Zimbra's EMEA general manager Lars Nordhild Rønning added: “We designed ZCS from the ground up to be deployed by VARs and hosted service providers, who can provide Zimbra as a service, and are excited that Interactive Ideas is bringing Zimbra to its customers.”