A method is described to allow a device to retrieve a message, that is separated into a plurality of fragments, from a data source, wherein the method involves: establishing a first network connection with the data source; receiving a subset of the plurality of fragments; determining the first network connection has ended before completion of said message; establishing one or more subsequent network connections with the data source; and receiving any of the plurality of fragments not within the subset. The characteristics (for example: application protocol, security, speed, reach, bandwidth capability, cost of usage, network type, physical layer type, data-link layer type, or IP address of one or both of the first and second devices) of the first network connection can be potentially different than the subsequent network connections.