Systems and methods are provided for Internet Protocol (IP) based communication systems without using a complete Internet Protocol stack on both sides of a communication link. Various exemplary embodiments include communication of audio information over a wireless transmission channel to a wireless terminal from a network that includes transmission of audio information using voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). A first communication system and method may include a wireless terminal having a dedicated audio application that includes processing for header compression and decompression. A second communication system and method may include a wireless terminal and a network device (e.g., a network transmitter/receiver terminal), each containing at least a portion of an Internet Protocol stack, and the network device may include a header modification means that may reduce or eliminate the header from VoIP packets it will send to the wireless terminal.