diff --git a/docs/src/reference/docbook/reference/redis-messaging.xml b/docs/src/reference/docbook/reference/redis-messaging.xml
index c09a40e4c..ea53d6ba5 100644
--- a/docs/src/reference/docbook/reference/redis-messaging.xml
+++ b/docs/src/reference/docbook/reference/redis-messaging.xml
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ template.convertAndSend("hello!", "world");]]></programlisting>
   &lt;!-- the default ConnectionFactory --&gt;
   &lt;redis:listener-container&gt;
     &lt;!-- the method attribute can be skipped as the default method name is "handleMessage" --&gt;
-    &lt;redis:listener ref="listener" method="handleMessage" channel="chatroom" /&gt;
+    &lt;redis:listener ref="listener" method="handleMessage" topic="chatroom" /&gt;
   &lt;/redis:listener-container&gt;
   
   &lt;bean class="redisexample.DefaultMessageDelegate"/&gt;
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ template.convertAndSend("hello!", "world");]]></programlisting>
 &lt;bean id="redisContainer" class="org.springframework.data.keyvalue.redis.listener.RedisMessageListenerContainer"&gt;
     &lt;property name="connectionFactory" ref="connectionFactory"/&gt;
     &lt;property name="messageListeners"&gt;
-      <lineannotation>&lt;!-- map of listeners and their associated topics (channels or topics) --&gt;</lineannotation>
+      <lineannotation>&lt;!-- map of listeners and their associated topics (channels or/and patterns) --&gt;</lineannotation>
       &lt;map&gt;
         <emphasis role="bold">&lt;entry key-ref="messageListener"&gt;</emphasis>
             &lt;bean class="org.springframework.data.keyvalue.redis.listener.ChannelTopic">
diff --git a/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/RedisListenerContainerParser.java b/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/RedisListenerContainerParser.java
index 12fd192fd..8dca98e68 100644
--- a/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/RedisListenerContainerParser.java
+++ b/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/RedisListenerContainerParser.java
@@ -117,26 +117,15 @@ class RedisListenerContainerParser extends AbstractSimpleBeanDefinitionParser {
 		// assemble topics
 		Collection<Topic> topics = new ArrayList<Topic>();
 
-		// get channels
-		String channels = element.getAttribute("channel");
-		if (StringUtils.hasText(channels)) {
-			String[] array = StringUtils.delimitedListToStringArray(channels, " ");
+		// get topic
+		String xTopics = element.getAttribute("topic");
+		if (StringUtils.hasText(xTopics)) {
+			String[] array = StringUtils.delimitedListToStringArray(xTopics, " ");
 
 			for (String string : array) {
-				topics.add(new ChannelTopic(string));
+				topics.add(string.contains("*") ? new PatternTopic(string) : new ChannelTopic(string));
 			}
 		}
-
-		// get patterns
-		String patterns = element.getAttribute("pattern");
-		if (StringUtils.hasText(patterns)) {
-			String[] array = StringUtils.delimitedListToStringArray(patterns, " ");
-
-			for (String string : array) {
-				topics.add(new PatternTopic(string));
-			}
-		}
-
 		ret[0] = builder.getBeanDefinition();
 		ret[1] = topics;
 
diff --git a/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/listener/ChannelTopic.java b/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/listener/ChannelTopic.java
index 654c34b7a..17ebda41a 100644
--- a/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/listener/ChannelTopic.java
+++ b/spring-data-redis/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/listener/ChannelTopic.java
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 package org.springframework.data.keyvalue.redis.listener;
 
 /**
- * Topic describing a channel.
+ * Channel topic implementation (maps to a Redis channel). 
  * 
  * @author Costin Leau
  */
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ public class ChannelTopic implements Topic {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Returns the channel name.
+	 * Returns the topic name.
 	 *  
-	 * @return channel name
+	 * @return topic name
 	 */
 	public String getTopic() {
 		return channelName;
diff --git a/spring-data-redis/src/main/resources/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/spring-redis-1.0.xsd b/spring-data-redis/src/main/resources/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/spring-redis-1.0.xsd
index dea12ea92..59c815d6e 100644
--- a/spring-data-redis/src/main/resources/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/spring-redis-1.0.xsd
+++ b/spring-data-redis/src/main/resources/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/spring-redis-1.0.xsd
@@ -110,19 +110,12 @@ and stop as soon as possible.
         </xsd:appinfo>
       </xsd:annotation>
     </xsd:attribute>
-    <xsd:attribute name="channel" type="xsd:string">
+    <xsd:attribute name="topic" type="xsd:string">
       <xsd:annotation>
         <xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
-The channel(s) to which the listener is subscribed. Multiple values can be specified
-by separating them with spaces.
-        ]]></xsd:documentation>
-      </xsd:annotation>
-    </xsd:attribute>
-    <xsd:attribute name="pattern" type="xsd:string">
-      <xsd:annotation>
-        <xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
-The pattern(s) matching the channels to which the listener is subscribed. Multiple values can be specified
-by separating them with spaces.
+The topics(s) to which the listener is subscribed. Can be (in Redis terminology) a 
+channel or/and a pattern. Multiple values can be specified by separating them with 
+spaces. Patterns can be specified by using the '*' character. 
         ]]></xsd:documentation>
       </xsd:annotation>
     </xsd:attribute>
diff --git a/spring-data-redis/src/test/resources/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/namespace.xml b/spring-data-redis/src/test/resources/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/namespace.xml
index 91a7cc2f3..ab17a299e 100644
--- a/spring-data-redis/src/test/resources/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/namespace.xml
+++ b/spring-data-redis/src/test/resources/org/springframework/data/keyvalue/redis/config/namespace.xml
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@
 	 			
 	<redis:listener-container topic-serializer="serializer">
 		<!-- default handle method -->
-		<redis:listener ref="testBean1" channel="z1 z2" pattern="x*"/>
+		<redis:listener ref="testBean1" topic="z1 z2 x*"/>
 		<!-- channel subscription only -->
-		<redis:listener ref="testBean1" method="anotherHandle" channel="x1" serializer="serializer"/>
-		<redis:listener ref="testBean2" channel="exception"/>
+		<redis:listener ref="testBean1" method="anotherHandle" topic="x1" serializer="serializer"/>
+		<redis:listener ref="testBean2" topic="exception"/>
 	</redis:listener-container>
 	
 	<bean id="testBean1" class="org.springframework.data.keyvalue.redis.listener.adapter.RedisMDP"/>