Bluesocket Offers Trade-In Program for Reefedge Gear

Capitalizing on media reports that wireless LAN gateway startup ReefEdge Networks has hit hard times, competing vendor Bluesocket last week unveiled a limited-time buy-back program to take advantage of its rival's apparent misfortune.

In published reports last week, ReefEdge CEO David Goretski said the Fort Lee, N.J.-based vendor reduced the size of its workforce in an effort to refocus the struggling company. Recent industry rumors speculated that ReefEdge was on the verge of shutting down, but Goretski said this was not the case.

ReefEdge did not respond to CRN's requests for comment by press time.

Bluesocket, which also sells wireless LAN security and management devices, is offering existing ReefEdge customers and channel partners a trade-in credit of up to 50 percent of the value of ReefEdge products, said Bob Darabant, vice president of sales for Bluesocket. The products' value will be determined by age.

The credit can be applied to the purchase of new products from Burlington, Mass.-based Bluesocket, including its family of wireless gateways as well as the BlueSecure Intrusion Protection System, Darabant said.The offer is good until Dec. 31, 2004. Partners and customers can take advantage of the deal by e-mailing Bluesocket at [email protected], or calling (781) 328-0888, ext 240.

Bluesocket is viewed as a strong player in the emerging wireless security and management space, and competes directly with ReefEdge, Vernier Networks and Cranite Systems.

"Bluesocket devices give you an enormous amount of flexibility, leave a clear path to upgrade to the up-and-coming standards, and is easy to implement and manage," said Travis Davenport, president of Dallas-based Davenport Technologies LLC, a network security solution provider.

Bluesocket plans to add to its gateway family with the Bluesocket WG-400, which targets SMBs and branch offices. The WG-400 costs $2,250 and will ship Dec. 17.

Another solution provider, who declined to be named, said he has seen numerous wireless gateways from other vendors replaced because of problems with the original gear, but has never seen a customer replace a Bluesocket device. In fact, the integrator said he is currently replacing ReefEdge gateways with Bluesocket devices for two customers.0