System and method for consolidating media signaling to facilitate internet protocol (IP) telephony

A system and method for consolidating media signaling to facilitate IP telephony includes receiving a first message exchange in a first protocol from a first endpoint to negotiate a media path with a second endpoint. It is determined to consolidate the first message exchange with additional message exchanges received from the first endpoint in the first protocol. A second message exchange is received in the first protocol from the first endpoint, and information derived from the first message exchange and the second message exchange is consolidated. A first message exchange in a second protocol is initiated to the second endpoint according to the information consolidated from the first and second message exchanges in the first protocol. One or more media flows is facilitated over the media path between the first and second endpoints according to the first and second message exchanges in the first protocol and the first message exchange in the second protocol.