Methods and apparatus for selecting a wireless communication network based on quality of service criteria associated with an application are disclosed. In one illustrative example, one of several different software applications of a mobile communication device is executed. The software application may be, for example, an e-mail application, an Internet data application, a voice-over-IP application, a video player application, an audio player application, or a video game application. Each software application is associated with different quality of service (QoS) criteria for data communications through a wireless network. The quality of service criteria may include, for example, a bandwidth criterion, a delay criterion, a delay variation criterion, and a data loss criterion. A scanning operation is performed to identify a plurality of a wireless networks available in a coverage area of the mobile device. One of the identified wireless networks is selected for communication based on a match between its available quality of service and the quality of service criterion associated with the executed software application. Advantageously, the most suitable network may be chosen and utilized for each software application.