This strategy should also delineate an upgrade path to 802.11n. Although there are no immediate plans to deploy 802.11n devices, you want to keep your options open once standards-based products come on the market. Similarly, though wireless networking products have mostly used 2.4-GHz unlicensed frequencies, it may be necessary in the future to take advantage of the 5-GHz unlicensed frequencies as well. The "future proofing" strategy should describe the means to incorporate both frequency bands.
Once the WLAN is up and running, there will be on-going costs, so you'll need an estimate of the lifetime of the equipment and associated management and other systems to support the network. If you don't have an estimate of the lifespan of what you'll be buying, it will be hard to determine the TCO over the lifetime of the system. Clearly, network equipment, especially wireless equipment, has had a relatively short life. This partly reflects the continuing developments in technology and new standards. It's not just the equipment that may have a short life--so will the management software for each new generation of the equipment.
Also, data mobility, is only the beginning. Several constituencies, particularly sales, might benefit from mobile voice capabilities such as voice over Wi-Fi. Although this isn't a key requirement of the original WLAN deployment, you'd like to get ballpark numbers on the costs associated with wireless voice. Adding voice to the network, for instance, will require consistent service. Voice traffic must be prioritized to ensure good quality, so the integrator must recommend how to ensure QoS. It should also estimate the cost of any additional infrastructure, such as more APs (access points), that would be required to provide voice on the wireless IP network, as well as any upgrades to the wired network to support voice.
Together, the information you receive about all these aspects of the network will help you determine the expected total cost of deploying the WLAN. Because you've asked about potential upgrades and capabilities, the integrator will provide a range of costs to account for various scenarios. The range will start at a minimum of what you must have today and go to a maximum of what you anticipate you'll need over the next several years.
The Consultant's Response
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