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Is this the cheapest Bluetooth access point?

Normally, you set up wireless access by buying an AP based on WiFi. But for Internet surfing, the slower Bluetooth standard might serve, perhaps?

The alternative involves plugging a device - a "Bluetooth communicator" into the USB port of a PC which is already connected to the Internet, says Colorado-based X-traFun, Inc - offering the device for $49.

While the company is quite right in saying that you can now wirelessly access the Internet with this wireless communicator, what they aren't saying is that you'd be very unhappy if you tried this as an alternative to a proper wireless LAN.

The device is simple and tiny, and it will simultaneously connect up to six additional Bluetooth wireless enabled devices- and X-traFun says this will work "within 100 meters of the access appliance."

But the crunch is that while the wireless communicator bandwidth is 724Kbps - faster than almost any domestic Internet link - an awful lot of communication between one computer and another needs to go much faster. Copying files over a shared Bluetooth access point would be frustratingly slow.

The device includes 128-bit security encryption.

The company says: "Mobile Internet web surfing at the home or office is one of several applications besides home networking," but it's probably worth thinking twice before accepting its claim that it "will provide the customer an alternative choice before spending $300 and more dollars on the traditional embedded wireless access appliances on the market."

In fact, wireless 802.11b access points are now selling for substantially less than $100. And while Mark Kramer reckons it's a "low cost interim solution" it's worth making sure you actually have other Bluetooth devices capable of connecting to this one. Not everything that is labelled Bluetooth will do anything useful; and a lot of Bluetooth phones will talk only to their headsets, or act as a modem.

However, Mark Kramer, President and CEO of X-traFun, Inc isn't guessing about the demand for this: "This was originally identified as a key market barrier in selling our Bluetooth wireless Game Boy Cartridge in the customers home."

X-traFun Inc., of Castle Rock, Colorado has already designed and developed the wireless cartridge interface for the Game Boy family of products that will enable mobile edutainment for children of all ages. Besides interactive game playing, kids can receive and send e-mails, perform chat messaging, e-book reading, and print.

The company plans to offer additional benefits before it launches to the public including a small folding wireless keyboard. The company is focusing on communication functions that support entertainment; education, remote control, medical and television broadcast markets.

Full details of these products from www.x-trafun.com.