36. A method of bridging a first communications network having a payload subnetwork and a signaling subnetwork with a second communications network that is packet-switched, comprising the steps of: a. establishing a first communications link to the payload subnetwork of the first communications network for communicating payload information; b. establishing a second communications link to the signaling subnetwork of the first communications network for communicating signaling information in accordance with a signaling protocol associated with the signaling subnetwork; c. establishing a third communications link to the second communications network for communicating information in accordance with a communications protocol associated with the second communications network; and d. coordinating the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network using the first communications link, the second communications link and the third communications link, wherein the step of coordinating the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network includes initiating at least one of the tasks of communications session setup, communications session tear down, bridging of two communications requests or routing of a communications to a communications access point in one of the first communications network or the second communications network.
36. A method of bridging a first communications network having a payload subnetwork and a signaling subnetwork with a second communications network that is packet-switched, comprising the steps of: a. establishing a first communications link to the payload subnetwork of the first communications network for communicating payload information; b. establishing a second communications link to the signaling subnetwork of the first communications network for communicating signaling information in accordance with a signaling protocol associated with the signaling subnetwork; c. establishing a third communications link to the second communications network for communicating information in accordance with a communications protocol associated with the second communications network; and d. coordinating the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network using the first communications link, the second communications link and the third communications link, wherein the step of coordinating the transfer of information between the first communications network and the second communications network includes initiating at least one of the tasks of communications session setup, communications session tear down, bridging of two communications requests or routing of a communications to a communications access point in one of the first communications network or the second communications network. 37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the first communications link is established through one of a plurality of available access points contained within the payload subnetwork of the first communications network.