A method for managing quality of service (QoS) consists of receiving a packet and identifying at least one application level characteristic of the packet. The method for managing QoS further consists of modifying quality of service parameters of the packet based on the application level characteristic and sending the packet to a destination with modified quality of service parameters. A system for managing QoS includes modules such as a bearer module adapted to review and retrieve data from a packet and a payload packet inspector module adapted to identify at least one application level characteristic of the packet. The system for managing QoS further has a policy enforcement module designed to modify quality of service parameters of the packet based in part on the retrieved data and the at least one application level characteristic.