System and method for handling media streams

A mechanism for managing and enhancing communication streams in a VOIP service using SIP is discussed. SIP is used to manage and enhance a communication stream at a centralized switching element in the VoIP environment rather than at the communication stream endpoints. The communication stream set up by SIP is directed through a central switching element under administrative control rather than traveling directly between the stream endpoints. As a result, the media stream may be conditioned with treatments and may be provided with enhanced services at the central switching element without the specific treatments and services being supported at both stream endpoints. The use of the centralized switching element allows full administrative control of the VoIP environment.