"We expect the device to pay for itself in 18 months," Marshall said via email. "This will happen through cost avoidance [for controllers] in new stores and selling or trading in the old units we retire."

The Flex 7500 allows IT managers to remotely configure wireless policies, management and security settings, Hooks said. One controller can manage 2,000 access points and 20,000 Wi-Fi clients from 500 branch locations, Cisco said.

Meanwhile, last week announced a new NX 9000 integrated services controller to support up to 10,000 APs from a headquarters location.

Pricing starts at $14,995, plus $59,995 for the first 1,000 AP licenses.

Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at , or subscribe to . His e-mail address is .