One more DeKalb firm made it to the big leagues.

Micro Solutions Computer Center, 130 W. Lincoln Hwy., joined Connecting Point of America, the fastest growing franchiser in the computer industry.

In joining with Connecting Point, Micro Solutions follows a national trend of small computer dealers uniting with larger firms.

Jay Armbruster, MSCC store manager, is pleased with the union.

“We’ll be able to offer our customers better prices and a broader line of products now,” he said.

However, Armbruster said Dekalb’s oldest and largest computer dealer won’t be sacrificing its small-time soul or independence for profit.

“In essence, we’ve bought their services. It’s still a local business owned by Micro Solutions,” he said.

The new deal is good news to NIU students, who, according to Armbruster are frequent customers of the store. NIU also has bought equipment from Micro Solutions.

“We’ve been helping out NIU consistently for the last 10 years that we’ve been open,” Armbruster said.

Marge Waldbaum, Connecting Point of America’s Director of Public Relations in the companies headquarters in Colo., sees Micro Solutions’s move as part of a national trend of independent companies.

“Independent computer companies are going to find it increasingly harder to survive in competitive markets like ours, especially when we can offer more variety at lower prices than independent companies usually can,” she said.

Another advantage Connecting Point has over competitors is its huge resources.

With a $60 million warehouse, the company can offer marketing, advertising, merchandising and technical support to its franchise members, Waldbaum said.

Connecting Point of America was acquired by Intelligent Electronics Inc. of Penn. in 1979. It formed a company that is the largest computer organization in America, with outlets throughout the U.S., Canada, and Guam.