The invention provides a system and method for controlling multimedia communication quality in a handheld device. The handheld device receives and transmits multimedia data via a wireless network. First, the predetermined video coding parameters are used to code a video stream and transmit the coded video stream via the wireless network, and receive a multimedia data via the wireless network. Next, the quality of the wireless network is detected. When the quality is poor, the video coding parameters are changed. Finally, the quality of received multimedia data is detected. When the quality of received multimedia data is poor, the video coding parameters are changed.