A system, apparatus, and method are provided for connecting, configuring and testing wireless devices and applications. For example, one embodiment of wireless device for operation in a wireless network comprises a processor, a wireless module including a radio receiver and transmitter unit coupled to the processor, a graphical user interface (GUI) coupled to the processor, and a Connection Manager Module (CMM) including an Application Programming Interface (API) module, a Rules Engine Module, and a Rules Set Module, wherein the CMM manages a connection to a wireless network.