Wi-Fi Alliance Launches ROI Calculator

The Wi-Fi Alliance recently launched its ROI calculator tool, which it claims can be used by IT Managers and CIOs for building the case for deploying Wireless LANs in the corporate environment. This comes at a time where businesses are looking closely at wireless infrastructure, however, may be finding it difficult to justify the costs versus the benefits.

Built using Microsoft Excel, the calculator determines ROI based on the productivity gains associated with increased access to the corporate network. The tool works on the premise that making employees more connected increases productivity.

Results are presented in terms of dollars savings, or payback in months, relative to the upfront costs for installation, hardware and the recurring costs for IT support for the WLAN.

The tool is freely downloadable from the Wi-Fi Alliance website here

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a non-profit international association with over 180 members made up of the who-is-who of 802.11. Formed in 1999, the body's goals are to ensure interoperability of wireless Local Area Network products based on IEEE 802.11 specification.