Methods, devices, non-transitory processor-readable instructions, and systems for a VOIP application server associated with a VOIP application to improve performance of a target computing device for IP communications via the VOIP application. An embodiment method may include determining whether the target computing device is likely to be called using the VOIP application during a contact period, and directing the target computing device to adjust a performance setting for receiving an IP communication in response to determining a likelihood the device will be called during the contact period. When a call is likely, the performance setting may be raised via transmitting dummy traffic to target computing device, activating a quality-of-service on an Rx interface corresponding to the VOIP application and the target computing device, and/or transmitting a message directing the target computing device to utilize an aggressive slot cycle index setting or an aggressive discontinuous reception setting.