The WLAN control module will be integrated with both the Catalyst 6500 enterprise router, which has the capability to control up to 1500 APs, and the 2800 and 3800 branch office routers, with maximum control of six access points.

"In the past, WLANs were an overlay network. Now we can integrate the two, [wired and wireless] with hardware, software, and services on a common platform," Gibson said.

For example, Network Admission Control, a key security feature that Cisco offered for its wired network, will now be offered for wireless as well on a single platform.

Sam Lucero, a senior analyst with ABI Research, said that despite the fact that many companies already offer centralized control of WLAN deployments, Cisco's entrance into this space validates the market.

The other market Cisco validated this week, according to Lucero, is mesh networking.