Marketing Trends

The Importance of a Unified Architecture

The importance of a unified solution is magnified as wireless LAN deployments migrate from isolated areas supporting nice-to-have applications such as guest access to companywide, pervasive networks running mission critical applications like wireless voice over IP (VoIP), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and other back office and customer care solutions. The next natural phase of wireless LAN advancement centers on integration with the Layer 2 and 3 switching infrastructure. Customers understand this as well, with over 70 percent of those surveyed by Gartner citing integration with the wired network as the key criteria for selecting a wireless LAN vendor.

Figure 3. Key Selection Criteria for a Wireless LAN Vendor

Pervasive wireless LAN deployment across the entire enterprise is motivating this evolution to integrate wireless-specific capabilities within the Layer 2 and 3 wired infrastructure. Integrating this functionality uses the bandwidth, security, redundancy, and management capabilities of the network and provides a strong platform for expansion. Cisco is the first to introduce this next-generation wireless LAN solution with the Cisco Catalyst® 6500 Wireless Services Module (WiSM), the Cisco Wireless Controller Module for the Integrated Services Router and the Cisco Catalyst 3750G Integrated Wireless LAN Controller.

Introducing the Cisco Unified Wireless Network | Solution Components
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