The SCO Group is moving its OpenServer and UnixWare operating systems to the same Unix kernel as part of its plans for 32- and 64-bit computing.

SCO said the move would allow it to deliver more new features for both operating systems, and simplify certification for hardware and software partners while still giving customers a choice of the OpenServer and UnixWare operating environments.

Sandy Gupta, vice president of engineering at SCO, said: "We knew we had to move both product lines forward.

"Our engineering team can now work on one consolidated source. We can do more features, our independent software vendors can do more applications and our independent hardware vendors can do more drivers."

Legend, the next version of OpenServer due in the first half of 2005, will use the same SVR5 kernel being used in UnixWare 7.1.4 which is shipping now.

Gupta claimed that Legend will support large files and include asynchronous I/O, with a new file system which supports high I/O throughput. It will also integrate new applications including Apache 2 and MySQL.

Legend will also feature a new developer environment to create applications that can be used on SCO OpenServer and UnixWare.

It will include virtual private networking and an encrypted file system and archive, as well as the SCOx Web Services Substrate.

After this release, the next versions of SCO OpenServer and UnixWare, called Project Diamond, will then share the same SVR6 kernel for 32- and 64-bit computing. These products are due in the first half of 2006.

Jeff Hunsaker, senior vice president and general manager of the SCO Unix division, said: "We are starting to provide clarity to our customers about the Unix division: that it is being modernised and it has a future."

He added that, until SCO's legal battles are over, the emphasis will be on upgrading existing customers.

And SCO chairman and chief executive Darl McBride said: "We do have a 64-bit version back on the roadmap and that was missing until now."