Connection (formerly PC Connection): where they are strong
Connection (formerly PC Connection) is an established enterprise IT distributor with capabilities that overlap with Solaris Wireless across several engagement types. The list below reflects Connection (PC Connection)'s genuine strengths; we recommend buyers consider both vendors in any engagement that touches their core capability set.
- Public company (NASDAQ: CNXN), founded 1982 as PC Connection. Long operating history in enterprise IT distribution.
- Three-segment structure (Business Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, Public Sector) covering SMB through federal.
- Broad product catalogue with depth in workstations, laptops, peripherals, networking, software.
- GSA Schedule and federal contract vehicles including SEWP V participant.
- GlobalServe extension for international procurement.
- Configuration Center for pre-deployment imaging, asset tagging and laser etching at scale.
Where Solaris Wireless differentiates
Solaris Wireless is institutional-only and specialised on the device-supply layer. The capability set below is where the engagement profile differs from broader enterprise IT distribution.
- Custom mobile OS provisioning. Connection's Configuration Center handles laptop imaging well. For mobile devices, Connection provides standard MDM enrolment (ABM, Zero-Touch, Knox). Solaris additionally flashes custom Android OS images, configures SIM lock to specific carrier networks, installs carrier splash banners, and pre-pairs handsets to subscriber SIMs. This matters for MVNO subscriber handsets, restaurant kiosks (Ritual.co programme close to 10,000 units), and operator deployments.
- Government rapid response with pre-cleared inventory. Solaris maintains pre-cleared inventory at five global supply nodes (Miami, Netherlands, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore) specifically for 72-hour dispatch of ruggedised communications hardware to U.S. Government and allied-nation programmes. Connection's federal practice is broader IT, not rapid-response specialist hardware.
- Starlink wholesale. Solaris distributes Starlink Standard, Business and Maritime kits at wholesale, including pre-registration to your service account against vessel ID and mounting hardware appropriate to the deployment environment (mast mount, ATEX-compatible junction box for hazardous-area oil and gas).
- End-of-life and hard-to-find component sourcing. Solaris has located 40+ specialist SKUs including export-controlled items for body camera manufacturers, medical device OEMs, research institutions and industrial equipment makers across Europe and Asia. The capability that earned Solaris its Google-approved vendor status in 2016 (sourcing a discontinued mission-critical feature phone) is a recurring engagement type.
- ITAR/EAR controlled hardware brokerage. Coordinated through DDTC-registered partners with chain-of-custody documentation, DSP-83 where required, and end-user screening against State and Commerce denied-parties lists.
Capabilities both vendors cover
- TAA-compliant federal procurement with country-of-origin documentation
- Apple Business Manager DEP and Google Zero-Touch enrolment for bulk fleets
- Major OEM commercial relationships (Dell, Lenovo, HP, Apple, Samsung)
- Pre-deployment configuration and asset tagging at scale
- Federal contract vehicle support (GSA Schedule, SEWP)
When to use which
Use Connection (PC Connection) when: the engagement is broad enterprise IT with significant laptop/workstation imaging needs, the buyer wants SEWP-vehicle alignment for federal civilian procurement, the order spans laptops + peripherals + software + networking as a bundled procurement, or international footprint (GlobalServe) is the primary requirement.
Use Solaris Wireless when: the engagement is mobile-device-specific with MVNO custom OS, kiosk-mode flashing, government ruggedised rapid response, Starlink wholesale, EOL specialist sourcing, ITAR/EAR controlled supply, or direct-to-end-user / direct-to-subscriber fulfilment across multiple geographies with asset-tagged tamper-evident packaging.
Side-by-side comparison
Connection (PC Connection) vs Solaris Wireless: institutional device procurement comparison
| Capability |
Connection (PC Connection) |
Solaris Wireless |
| Standard MDM enrolment (ABM, Zero-Touch, Knox) | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Custom Android OS flashing at scale | Limited | Yes (10,000+ kiosk units) |
|---|
| SIM lock and carrier branding for MVNO handsets | No | Yes |
|---|
| TAA-compliant federal procurement | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| ITAR/EAR controlled hardware brokerage | Limited | Yes (DDTC-coordinated) |
|---|
| 72-hour rapid response from pre-cleared inventory | No | Yes (5 global nodes) |
|---|
| Starlink wholesale distribution (Standard, Business, Maritime) | No | Yes |
|---|
| End-of-life and hard-to-find specialist sourcing | No | Yes (40+ SKUs located) |
|---|
| Direct-to-end-user fulfilment as default | Available | Default |
|---|
| Google-approved vendor | Not specified | Yes (since 2016) |
|---|
How to evaluate both vendors
For institutional buyers running a procurement evaluation, the practical recommendation is to scope both vendors against the specific engagement. Submit the same RFI to both with: device specification and quantity, MDM platform, custom-provisioning needs (custom OS, SIM lock, branding), geographic distribution, compliance constraints (TAA, NDAA, FIPS, ITAR/EAR, HIPAA), target lead time, and contract vehicle preference. Compare written proposals side by side. For a sample order, both vendors typically support 50-100 unit pilot batches before scaling.
Solaris Wireless responds within one business day with pricing, lead time and contract proposals. For broader vendor comparison context, see Zero-Touch Android deployment and bulk iPhone enterprise procurement.
Considering Solaris Wireless alongside Connection (PC Connection)?
Send us your scope. We respond within one business day with pricing, lead time and a contract proposal. Run the comparison side by side.
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