Bluesocket Taps AP Market

Enterprise wireless LAN startup Bluesocket Inc. is to play its hand in the 802.11 access point market in an effort to compete for more enterprise business, Unstrung can reveal.

Traditionally a wireless gateway and security player, the company will next week unveil its AP-1500 kit, a dual-radio 802.11 a/b/g product using chipsets from Atheros Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: ATHR). Targeting availability from July, the hardware has a list price of $450.

In addition, Bluesocket plans to tout a "centralized sensor" offering in the same timeframe that will be incorporated into its BlueSecure Intrusion Protection System (IPS) product family. The kit aims to enable users to secure a building’s access points from one central location, rather than from a number of distributed sensors.

“When we get into the fourth quarter, around October, we will also offer customers a sensor that can double as an AP,” says Bluesocket’s marketing VP, David Danielson. “As a company we believe that sensor/AP combinations, as opposed to only offering the market a sensor overlay, is the best way to go.”

Bluesocket has raised a total of $42 million in VC funding (see Bluesocket Gets Greenbacks).

— Justin Springham, Senior Editor, Europe, Unstrung