Automatic provisioning based on communication network connectivity and characteristics

A computing device capable of executing a communication application for providing communications through multiple networks, comprising:

• a memory;
• a data store;
• a processor coupled to the memory and the data store, wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions for:
• performing an initial setup of the communication application;
• detecting one or more available communication networks;
• recognizing network characteristics of the available communication networks;
• prioritizing the available networks to determine a preferred network based on one of a default rule and a user preference
• automatically provisioning the communication application based on the preferred communication network and the recognized network characteristics;
• and
• facilitating communication through the preferred network employing the automatically provisioned communication application.

A computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon for providing communications through multiple networks, the instructions comprising:

• performing an initial setup of a plurality of communication applications on a portable communication device;
• scanning available communication networks in response to one of:
• a change in the portable communication device location, a change in time of day, and a change in received signal strength;
• recognizing characteristics of any newly detected networks;
• prioritizing the newly detected networks to determine a preferred communication network;
• automatically provisioning one of the plurality of communication applications based on the preferred communication network and the recognized characteristics of the preferred communication network;
• and
• facilitating communication through the preferred network employing the automatically provisioned communication application.