This paper presents novel solutions to some of the QoS problems associated with delay sensitive multimedia applications in next generation mobile environments. Based upon a set of requirements drawn from mobile multimedia applications, we speculate that the emerging field of active networking can help address these QoS issues. We introduce a set of active software components which, when executed on active network routers, are capable of significantly reducing network handoff times for mobile devices. This paper also documents the innovative component-based active network architecture used to support and develop the QoS enhancing components described above. Finally, we demonstrate the flexible and extensible properties of the active router design through a detailed description of the workings of the components described above.