diff --git a/include/SFML/Network/IpAddress.hpp b/include/SFML/Network/IpAddress.hpp
index 52179f79..d71d0633 100644
--- a/include/SFML/Network/IpAddress.hpp
+++ b/include/SFML/Network/IpAddress.hpp
@@ -107,29 +107,6 @@ public :
     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     IpAddress(Uint32 address);
 
-    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-    /// \brief Check if the address is a valid one
-    ///
-    /// If the address was constructed from a decimal representation
-    /// (like "192.168.1.56") this function will always return true
-    /// unless the address is the special one 255.255.255.255.
-    /// If the address was constructed from a host name, it is
-    /// reported as beeing valid only if the host exists and could
-    /// be converted to a decimal IP address.
-    ///
-    /// Examples:
-    /// \begincode
-    /// bool b1 = sf::IpAddress("127.0.0.1").IsValid();         // true
-    /// bool b2 = sf::IpAddress("1.2.3.4").IsValid();           // true
-    /// bool b3 = sf::IpAddress("www.google.com").IsValid();    // true
-    /// bool b4 = sf::IpAddress("www.dfgfghqsd.com").IsValid(); // false
-    /// \endcode
-    ///
-    /// \return True if address has a valid syntax
-    ///
-    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-    bool IsValid() const;
-
     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     /// \brief Get a string representation of the address
     ///
@@ -203,6 +180,7 @@ public :
     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     // Static member data
     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+    static const IpAddress None;      ///< Value representing an empty/invalid address
     static const IpAddress LocalHost; ///< The "localhost" address (for connecting a computer to itself locally)
 
 private :
@@ -317,7 +295,8 @@ SFML_API std::ostream& operator <<(std::ostream& stream, const IpAddress& addres
 ///
 /// Usage example:
 /// \code
-/// sf::IpAddress a1;                                     // an invalid address
+/// sf::IpAddress a0;                                     // an invalid address
+/// sf::IpAddress a1 = sf::IpAddress::None;               // an invalid address (same as a0)
 /// sf::IpAddress a2("127.0.0.1");                        // the local host address
 /// sf::IpAddress a3 = sf::IpAddress::LocalHost;          // the local host address (same as a2)
 /// sf::IpAddress a4(192, 168, 1, 56);                    // a local address
diff --git a/samples/ftp/Ftp.cpp b/samples/ftp/Ftp.cpp
index 238adae0..b7882aa5 100644
--- a/samples/ftp/Ftp.cpp
+++ b/samples/ftp/Ftp.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ int main()
         std::cout << "Enter the FTP server address : ";
         std::cin  >> address;
     }
-    while (!address.IsValid());
+    while (address == sf::IpAddress::None);
 
     // Connect to the server
     sf::Ftp server;
diff --git a/samples/sockets/TCP.cpp b/samples/sockets/TCP.cpp
index 1800d64c..124ffe06 100644
--- a/samples/sockets/TCP.cpp
+++ b/samples/sockets/TCP.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ void DoClientTCP(unsigned short port)
         std::cout << "Type address or name of the server to connect to : ";
         std::cin  >> serverAddress;
     }
-    while (!serverAddress.IsValid());
+    while (serverAddress == sf::IpAddress::None);
 
     // Create a TCP socket for communicating with server
     sf::SocketTCP client;
diff --git a/samples/sockets/UDP.cpp b/samples/sockets/UDP.cpp
index 7e610019..fa520cb0 100644
--- a/samples/sockets/UDP.cpp
+++ b/samples/sockets/UDP.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ void DoClientUDP(unsigned short port)
         std::cout << "Type address or name of the server to send the message to : ";
         std::cin  >> serverAddress;
     }
-    while (!serverAddress.IsValid());
+    while (serverAddress == sf::IpAddress::None);
 
     // Create a UDP socket for communicating with server
     sf::SocketUDP client;
diff --git a/samples/voip/Client.cpp b/samples/voip/Client.cpp
index 12b0d217..e397eece 100644
--- a/samples/voip/Client.cpp
+++ b/samples/voip/Client.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ void DoClient(unsigned short port)
         std::cout << "Type address or name of the server to connect to : ";
         std::cin  >> serverAddress;
     }
-    while (!serverAddress.IsValid());
+    while (serverAddress == sf::IpAddress::None);
 
     // Create a TCP socket for communicating with server
     sf::SocketTCP socket;
diff --git a/src/SFML/Network/IpAddress.cpp b/src/SFML/Network/IpAddress.cpp
index 0fd96b40..846fc02a 100644
--- a/src/SFML/Network/IpAddress.cpp
+++ b/src/SFML/Network/IpAddress.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 namespace sf
 {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+const IpAddress IpAddress::None;
 const IpAddress IpAddress::LocalHost(127, 0, 0, 1);
 
 
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ IpAddress::IpAddress(const std::string& address)
     myAddress = inet_addr(address.c_str());
 
     // If not successful, try to convert it as a host name
-    if (!IsValid())
+    if (myAddress == INADDR_NONE)
     {
         hostent* host = gethostbyname(address.c_str());
         if (host)
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ IpAddress::IpAddress(const char* address)
     myAddress = inet_addr(address);
 
     // If not successful, try to convert it as a host name
-    if (!IsValid())
+    if (myAddress == INADDR_NONE)
     {
         hostent* host = gethostbyname(address);
         if (host)
@@ -107,13 +108,6 @@ IpAddress::IpAddress(Uint32 address)
 }
 
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-bool IpAddress::IsValid() const
-{
-    return myAddress != INADDR_NONE;
-}
-
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 std::string IpAddress::ToString() const
 {