Methods and apparatus are disclosed for transmitting data, such as biometric data or Internet telephone data, in a packet network. Packets we split and interchanged prior to transmission across a packet network, such that packets that reach their destination may be processed, even in the presence of lost or delayed packets. Packets of biometric data, such as fingerprints, retinal scans or voice characteristics, of sampled voice packets are split, and optionally interchanged prior to transmission. If some packets are lost or delayed, while some of the packets teach their destination and provide sufficient data for user identification, then the user may be authenticated without requesting the retransmission of the lost or delayed data. If some packets are lost or delayed, while some packets reach their destination, then the received speech samples may be reproduced without requesting the retransmission of the lost or delayed data.