Abstract: A bridging server instantiates virtual packet telephones that emulate physical packet telephone instruments, and includes a switch operative to establish connections between respective pairs of the virtual packet telephones. A first one of a pair of virtual packet telephones is operative to receive an incoming packet telephone call on behalf of a circuit telephone for which an incoming packet telephone call is destined. A controller in the bridging server establishes, via a gateway device, a first connection between the circuit telephone and a second one of the pair of virtual packet telephones, and in response to the incoming packet telephone call establishes control inputs of the switch to establish an internal bridging connection between the first and second virtual packet telephones, thus completing the end-to-end connection. From the perspective of other packet telephony equipment, the bridging server effectively hides the connection to the circuit telephone.