Bluesocket Plugs In
"This should take us to profitability," Patrick Rafter, the company's director of corporate communications, told Unstrung in an email reply to questions.
So far, Bluesocket has gathered 'round $32 million in funding. Menlo Ventures is the lead investor in this latest round, which Bluesocket described as "oversubscribed." Bluesocket's wireless gateway products sit behind acess point networks and handle security functions and user access control; and they support roaming among different access points. The company's direct rivals include ReefEdge Inc. and Vernier Networks Inc.
Bluesocket's Rafter also positions his company's box as a competitor to the offerings of the wireless LAN switch startups, such as Aruba Networks Inc. and Trapeze Networks Inc. (see Aruba's Switch Pitch and Trapeze’s Switch Switcheroo ).
Bluesocket's product works with other vendors' access points and allows features to be globally applied across a network of access points. An example would be mobile VPNs (virtual private networks), which, unlike standard VPNs, allow users to move around a network and still retain their access rights, says Rafter.
In contrast, Rafter says, many wireless LAN switch vendors sell what he calls "lightweight" access points with the switch box; and the security functions they offer, such as wireless intrusion detection, can only be accessed when customers buy both the switch and the access points. Not all features are available if the switch is used with an existing network of other vendors' access points. "Clearly, switch vendors like Symbol and Aruba want you to buy the whole kit'n'kaboodle from them," says Rafter. Conveniently enough, the March issue of Wireless Oracle (Unstrung's paid research report, now renamed Unstrung Insider) looks at the opportunities for startups in the 802.11 security market, examining the prospects for Bluesocket, ReefEdge, Vernier, and others (see Security Startups Thrive). Unstrung research analyst, Gabriel Brown, concludes that there are plenty of opportunities for the producers' dedicated WLAN security boxes, particularly if higher-level management features are implemented.
— Dan Jones, Senior Editor, Unstrung Editor’s note: Neither Light Reading nor Unstrung is affiliated with Oracle Corporation
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Herb Howell and YaShekia Smalls | Daily News Staff
October 06, 2005
BSU installs new wireless security
Rise in use demands change to quicker, safer network service
Cisco Clean Access may also provide students with a personalized page when they log on, Malm said. For example, students can have access to a personal calendar or class schedule every time they log on to the wireless network, he said.
The universityGÇÖs current GÇ£BluesocketGÇ¥ security authenticating system cannot handle the rise in the number of laptop users, Malm said. This resulted in a situation late last month where hundreds of people were connected to the wireless network and additional log-ins in a certain area were not possible until other login sessions were disconnected.
http://www.bsudailynews.com/vn...
....... or did Ball State change mind?......
Wireless network is secure, capable of handling 10,000 users (5/30/2003)
MUNCIE, Ind. GÇô Ball State UniversityGÇÖs wireless network is complete, secure and capable of handling 10,000 users from 30 buildings simultaneously.
Ball State collaborated with Avnet Enterprise Solutions and Bluesocket to install and administer six Bluesocket Wireless Gateways to secure the universityGÇÖs network.
http://www.bsu.edu/news/articl...