1. A communications device, comprising: a virtual node operable to couple to one or more software overlays providing service functions on a flat network, wherein the virtual node is configured to receive network service signals of a first communications type, the network service signals comprising at least one network service signal addressed to a second device, and is to forward the at least one network service signal of the first type to the second device as a network service signal of a second communications type without the structure of a network interposed between the device and the second device.