“Peer-to-peer” switching means that the stations participating in a call are connected directly to each other through the IPnetwork. The signals travel through the IP network but do not “go through” the switch as they do in traditional telephony. The fact that Aspire can function in and support a “hybrid” network with traditional digital/analog switching, IP/TDM/IP switching and pure peer-to-peer IP switching means that users can continue to utilize their existing equipment while they begin to phase in IP Telephony and lay the foundation for current and future networks.
Courtesy of necaspire.com