diff --git a/build.properties b/build.properties
index 0aa55ad462..9a8fae48c0 100644
--- a/build.properties
+++ b/build.properties
@@ -6,3 +6,6 @@ project.key=INT
 ivy.cache.dir=${basedir}/../ivy-cache
 integration.repo.dir=${basedir}/../integration-repo
 javadoc.exclude.package.names=org/springframework/integration/samples/**
+# dependency versions
+spring.version=2.5.6.A
+junit.version=4.4.0
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.adapter/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.adapter/ivy.xml
index b41cba70b2..f41c1ca30a 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.adapter/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.adapter/ivy.xml
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 	</publications>
 
 	<dependencies>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 	</dependencies>
 
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.event/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.event/ivy.xml
index b41cba70b2..f41c1ca30a 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.event/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.event/ivy.xml
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 	</publications>
 
 	<dependencies>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 	</dependencies>
 
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.file/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.file/ivy.xml
index d6d30ed2d6..0b9c4132e4 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.file/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.file/ivy.xml
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@
 		<dependency org="net.sourceforge.cglib" name="com.springsource.net.sf.cglib" rev="2.1.3" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.easymock" name="com.springsource.org.easymock" rev="2.3.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.easymock" name="com.springsource.org.easymock.classextension" rev="2.3.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 		<dependency org="org.mockito" name="com.springsource.org.mockito" rev="1.6.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
 	</dependencies>
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.http/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.http/ivy.xml
index 6878557e39..21ddd0e8c2 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.http/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.http/ivy.xml
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@
 		<dependency org="org.apache.commons" name="com.springsource.org.apache.commons.httpclient" rev="3.1.0" conf="compile->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.easymock" name="com.springsource.org.easymock" rev="2.3.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.easymock" name="com.springsource.org.easymock.classextension" rev="2.3.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.mockito" name="com.springsource.org.mockito" rev="1.6.0" conf="test->runtime"/>		
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.web.servlet" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.web.servlet" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 	</dependencies>
 
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.httpinvoker/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.httpinvoker/ivy.xml
index 512e46bd11..0703ca2cf7 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.httpinvoker/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.httpinvoker/ivy.xml
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
 
 	<dependencies>
 		<dependency org="javax.servlet" name="com.springsource.javax.servlet" rev="2.4.0" conf="provided->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.aop" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.web" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.aop" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.web" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration.adapter" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 	</dependencies>
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.jms/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.jms/ivy.xml
index 59c5796470..43656589cd 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.jms/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.jms/ivy.xml
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@
 
 	<dependencies>
 		<dependency org="javax.jms" name="com.springsource.javax.jms" rev="1.1.0" conf="provided->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.jms" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.transaction" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.jms" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.transaction" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration.adapter" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 	</dependencies>
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.mail/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.mail/ivy.xml
index 7920310824..bf8574e8b4 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.mail/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.mail/ivy.xml
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@
 		<dependency org="net.sourceforge.cglib" name="com.springsource.net.sf.cglib" rev="2.1.3" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.easymock" name="com.springsource.org.easymock" rev="2.3.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.easymock" name="com.springsource.org.easymock.classextension" rev="2.3.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context.support" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context.support" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration.adapter" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 	</dependencies>
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.rmi/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.rmi/ivy.xml
index 6cbef42dee..1e127f303e 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.rmi/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.rmi/ivy.xml
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@
 	</publications>
 
 	<dependencies>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.aop" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.aop" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration.adapter" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 	</dependencies>
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.security/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.security/ivy.xml
index f5ceb1c130..48127edb95 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.security/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.security/ivy.xml
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
 
 	<dependencies>
 		<dependency org="org.easymock" name="com.springsource.org.easymock" rev="2.3.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.aop" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.transaction" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.aop" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.transaction" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.security" name="org.springframework.security" rev="2.0.4.A" conf="compile->runtime">
 			<exclude org="org.springframework"/>
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.stream/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.stream/ivy.xml
index 8587dd57fc..a1f06b61df 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.stream/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.stream/ivy.xml
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@
 	</publications>
 
 	<dependencies>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.core" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.core" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 	</dependencies>
 
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.ws/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.ws/ivy.xml
index fd6df878b1..9162d504de 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.ws/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.ws/ivy.xml
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@
 			<exclude org="org.springframework"/>
 		</dependency>
 		<!-- test dependencies -->
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>	
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>	
 		<dependency org="org.mockito" name="com.springsource.org.mockito" rev="1.6.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>				
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>				
 	</dependencies>
 
 </ivy-module>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.xml/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration.xml/ivy.xml
index 4b4a78476f..d6d473d881 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.xml/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.xml/ivy.xml
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@
 		<dependency org="javax.xml.bind" name="com.springsource.javax.xml.bind" rev="2.1.7" conf="provided->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="javax.xml.stream" name="com.springsource.javax.xml.stream" rev="1.0.1" conf="provided->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.custommonkey.xmlunit" name="com.springsource.org.custommonkey.xmlunit" rev="1.2.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.integration" name="org.springframework.integration" rev="latest.integration" conf="compile->compile"/>
 		<dependency org="org.springframework.ws" name="org.springframework.oxm" rev="1.5.5.A" conf="compile->runtime">
 			<exclude org="org.springframework"/>
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration/ivy.xml b/org.springframework.integration/ivy.xml
index 3b7e702bc2..94a0ae0add 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration/ivy.xml
+++ b/org.springframework.integration/ivy.xml
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@
 
 	<dependencies>
 		<dependency org="net.sourceforge.cglib" name="com.springsource.net.sf.cglib" rev="2.1.3" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="4.4.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.junit" name="com.springsource.org.junit" rev="${junit.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.easymock" name="com.springsource.org.easymock" rev="2.3.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.aop" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.transaction" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="compile->runtime"/>
-		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="2.5.6.A" conf="test->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.aop" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.context" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.transaction" rev="${spring.version}" conf="compile->runtime"/>
+		<dependency org="org.springframework" name="org.springframework.test" rev="${spring.version}" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.mockito" name="com.springsource.org.mockito" rev="1.6.0" conf="test->runtime"/>
 		<dependency org="org.aspectj" name="com.springsource.org.aspectj.weaver" rev="1.6.3.RELEASE" conf="test->runtime"/>
 	</dependencies>
diff --git a/spring-integration-samples/pom.xml b/spring-integration-samples/pom.xml
index 996bbf09ee..bf8fd59d7c 100644
--- a/spring-integration-samples/pom.xml
+++ b/spring-integration-samples/pom.xml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 	<packaging>pom</packaging>
 	<name>Spring Integration Samples</name>
 	<properties>
-		<release.version>1.0.3.RELEASE</release.version>
+		<release.version>1.0.3.BUILD-SNAPSHOT</release.version>
 	</properties>
 	<modules>
 		<module>cafe</module>