diff --git a/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/Network.java b/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/Network.java
index 7e9dc0254..1cf48e876 100644
--- a/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/Network.java
+++ b/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/Network.java
@@ -66,6 +66,14 @@ public class Network
         return new DefaultServer( reliable, fast );       
     }
     
+    /**
+     *  Creates a client that can be connected at a later time.
+     */
+    public static NetworkClient createClient()
+    {
+        return new NetworkClientImpl();
+    }     
+    
     /**
      *  Creates a Client that communicates with the specified host and port
      *  using both reliable and fast transports.  The localUdpPort specifies the
@@ -73,7 +81,18 @@ public class Network
      */   
     public static Client connectToServer( String host, int hostPort, int localUdpPort ) throws IOException
     {
-        return connectToServer( InetAddress.getByName(host), hostPort, localUdpPort );   
+        return connectToServer( InetAddress.getByName(host), hostPort, hostPort, localUdpPort );   
+    }
+
+    /**
+     *  Creates a Client that communicates with the specified host and port
+     *  using both reliable and fast transports.  The localUdpPort specifies the
+     *  local port to use for listening for incoming 'fast' UDP messages.
+     */   
+    public static Client connectToServer( String host, int hostPort, int remoteUdpPort, 
+                                          int localUdpPort ) throws IOException
+    {
+        return connectToServer( InetAddress.getByName(host), hostPort, remoteUdpPort, localUdpPort );   
     }
  
     /**
@@ -82,6 +101,17 @@ public class Network
      *  local port to use for listening for incoming 'fast' messages.
      */   
     public static Client connectToServer( InetAddress address, int port, int localUdpPort ) throws IOException
+    {
+        return connectToServer( address, port, port, localUdpPort );
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     *  Creates a Client that communicates with the specified address and port
+     *  using both reliable and fast transports.  The localUdpPort specifies the
+     *  local port to use for listening for incoming 'fast' messages.
+     */   
+    public static Client connectToServer( InetAddress address, int port, int remoteUdpPort, 
+                                          int localUdpPort ) throws IOException
     {
         InetAddress local = InetAddress.getLocalHost();
         UdpConnector fast = new UdpConnector( local, localUdpPort, address, port ); 
@@ -89,4 +119,27 @@ public class Network
        
         return new DefaultClient( reliable, fast );
     }
+ 
+    protected static class NetworkClientImpl extends DefaultClient implements NetworkClient
+    {
+        public NetworkClientImpl()
+        {
+        }
+        
+        public void connectToServer( String host, int port, int remoteUdpPort, 
+                                     int localUdpPort ) throws IOException
+        {
+            connectToServer( InetAddress.getByName(host), port, remoteUdpPort, localUdpPort );
+        }                                     
+                                 
+        public void connectToServer( InetAddress address, int port, int remoteUdpPort, 
+                                     int localUdpPort ) throws IOException
+        {
+            InetAddress local = InetAddress.getLocalHost();
+            UdpConnector fast = new UdpConnector( local, localUdpPort, address, port ); 
+            SocketConnector reliable = new SocketConnector( address, port );        
+            
+            setConnectors( reliable, fast );
+        }                                             
+    }   
 }
diff --git a/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/NetworkClient.java b/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/NetworkClient.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4c0e364a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/NetworkClient.java
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2011 jMonkeyEngine
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ * * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ * * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *   documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * * Neither the name of 'jMonkeyEngine' nor the names of its contributors
+ *   may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
+ *   without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+ * TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
+ * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+ * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+ * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
+ * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
+ * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+ * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+package com.jme3.network;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.net.InetAddress;
+
+/**
+ *  A Client whose network connection information can 
+ *  be provided post-creation.  The actual connection stack
+ *  will be setup the same as if Network.connectToServer
+ *  had been called.  
+ *
+ *  @version   $Revision$
+ *  @author    Paul Speed
+ */
+public interface NetworkClient extends Client
+{
+    public void connectToServer( String host, int port, int remoteUdpPort, 
+                                 int localUdpPort ) throws IOException;
+                                 
+    public void connectToServer( InetAddress address, int port, int remoteUdpPort, 
+                                 int localUdpPort ) throws IOException;
+    
+}
diff --git a/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/base/DefaultClient.java b/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/base/DefaultClient.java
index 59e3c4ace..3536dffa8 100644
--- a/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/base/DefaultClient.java
+++ b/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/base/DefaultClient.java
@@ -65,8 +65,22 @@ public class DefaultClient implements Client
     private ConnectorAdapter reliableAdapter;    
     private ConnectorAdapter fastAdapter;    
     
+    public DefaultClient()
+    {
+    }
+    
     public DefaultClient( Connector reliable, Connector fast )
     {
+        setConnectors( reliable, fast );
+    }
+
+    protected void setConnectors( Connector reliable, Connector fast )
+    {
+        if( reliable == null )
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException( "The reliable connector cannot be null." );            
+        if( isRunning )
+            throw new IllegalStateException( "Client is already started." );
+            
         this.reliable = reliable;
         this.fast = fast;
         if( reliable != null ) {
@@ -75,7 +89,7 @@ public class DefaultClient implements Client
         if( fast != null ) {
             fastAdapter = new ConnectorAdapter(fast, dispatcher);
         }
-    }
+    }  
 
     protected void checkRunning()
     {