NetContinuum is readying a new network appliance to help corporate and government IT managers deliver Web applications faster and more securely.

The NC-2000 Application Security Gateway is the company's multiprocessing software and AMD'snew dual-core Opteron processors.

In addition, the Santa Clara, Calif., company has developed a management console that gives data center managers an interface to control security ad traffic management features.

Currently in beta testing, the device and management console will be available Sept. 1 for $55,000. It will compete with offerings from F5 Networks, Imperva, Teros and others.

"The Web application security and application delivery markets have developed separately but are ripe for consolidation," Gartner researchers said in a recent report. "By 2008, 80 percent of deployments in which there is a Web application firewall and application acceleration will have these in a single product."

NetContinuum, a privately-held, venture-backed company, was founded in 1999 and counts Boston.com, the online presence of The Boston Globe as a customer.

In addition to its California headquarters, it has regional offices in Bangalore, India, Tokyo, and throughout the United States. It also recently extended its reach into Europe by signing deals with six overseas resellers and distributors.