audio signal packets and then audio decoder 232 decompresses the signal back into an audio waveform then speech encoder 221 compresses this audio waveform again and voip packetization module 222 converts the encoded speech signal into ip packets u2014 typically in real time transport protocol rtp form u2014 to be transmitted by rtp transmitter and receiver 223 across voip network 24 similarly in operation in the u201c reverse u201d direction i e for receiving speech from the voip network when the bt headset user is listening rtp transmitter and receiver 223 receives ip packets u2014 typically in real time transport protocol rtp form u2014 which it stores in jitter buffer 224 as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art a jitter buffer is used to absorb the impact of network jitter u2014 i e varying transmission delays of packets through the network then the stored packet data is read out of jitter buffer 224 and decompressed by speech decoder 225 producing an audio waveform when bt headset 21 is being used rather than handset 22 playing the audio waveform through its own loudspeaker not shown in the figure audio encoder 233 re compresses the audio waveform and bt transmitter 234 wirelessly transmits this signal to bt headset 21 using a bt protocol in bt headset 21 bt receiver 214 wirelessly receives this bt signal and audio decoder 215 decompresses the signal back into an audio waveform for playout by loudspeaker 216 fig3 shows a block diagram of an illustrative user environment for use in communicating across a voip communications network the illustrative user environment comprising a bluetooth headset and a handset adapted for use therewith the illustrative user environment providing for high quality speech communication in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention the.