A method comprising: establishing a first real time voice connection between a media application supporting a plurality of signal formats and a first opposite end device, in which the media application identifies itself during connection setup with the first opposite end device as supporting only a first signal format among the supported signal formats; wherein: if the first opposite end device supports the identified first signal format, the first opposite end device adopts the identified first signal format; and if the first opposite end device does not support the identified first signal format, the signals between the media application and the first opposite end device are converted to the identified first signal format by a switch along the network path between the media application and the first opposite end device; handling, by the media application, signals received on the first real time voice connection in accordance with the first signal format, so as to perform on the first real time voice connection a media application task; establishing a second real time voice connection between the media application and a second opposite end device, in which the media application identifies itself during connection setup with the second opposite end device as supporting only a second, different, signal format among the supported signal formats; wherein: if the second opposite end device supports the identified second signal format, the second opposite end device adopts the identified second signal format; and if the second opposite end device does not support the identified second signal format, the signals between the media application and the second opposite end device are converted to the identified second signal format by a switch along the network path between the media application and the second opposite end device; and handling, by the media application, signals received on the second real time voice connection in accordance with the second signal format, so as to perform on the second real time voice connection a media application task. establishing a first real time voice connection between a media application supporting a plurality of signal formats and a first opposite end device, in which the media application identifies itself during connection setup with the first opposite end device as supporting only a first signal format among the supported signal formats; wherein: if the first opposite end device supports the identified first signal format, the first opposite end device adopts the identified first signal format; and if the first opposite end device does not support the identified first signal format, the signals between the media application and the first opposite end device are converted to the identified first signal format by a switch along the network path between the media application and the first opposite end device; if the first opposite end device supports the identified first signal format, the first opposite end device adopts the identified first signal format; and if the first opposite end device does not support the identified first signal format, the signals between the media application and the first opposite end device are converted to the identified first signal format by a switch along the network path between the media application and the first opposite end device; handling, by the media application, signals received on the first real time voice connection in accordance with the first signal format, so as to perform on the first real time voice connection a media application task; establishing a second real time voice connection between the media application and a second opposite end device, in which the media application identifies itself during connection setup with the second opposite end device as supporting only a second, different, signal format among the supported signal formats; wherein: if the second opposite end device supports the identified second signal format, the second opposite end device adopts the identified second signal format; and if the second opposite end device does not support the identified second signal format, the signals between the media application and the second opposite end device are converted to the identified second signal format by a switch along the network path between the media application and the second opposite end device; and handling, by the media application, signals received on the second real time voice connection in accordance with the second signal format, so as to perform on the second real time voice connection a media application task. if the second opposite end device supports the identified second signal format, the second opposite end device adopts the identified second signal format; and if the second opposite end device does not support the identified second signal format, the signals between the media application and the second opposite end device are converted to the identified second signal format by a switch along the network path between the media application and the second opposite end device; and handling, by the media application, signals received on the second real time voice connection in accordance with the second signal format, so as to perform on the second real time voice connection a media application task.