diff --git a/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/bus/MessageBus.java b/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/bus/MessageBus.java
index 7e38993be3..9a66b9ac9d 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/bus/MessageBus.java
+++ b/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/bus/MessageBus.java
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ import org.springframework.integration.endpoint.DefaultEndpointRegistry;
 import org.springframework.integration.endpoint.EndpointRegistry;
 import org.springframework.integration.endpoint.HandlerEndpoint;
 import org.springframework.integration.endpoint.MessageEndpoint;
+import org.springframework.integration.endpoint.MessagingGateway;
 import org.springframework.integration.endpoint.SourceEndpoint;
 import org.springframework.integration.endpoint.TargetEndpoint;
 import org.springframework.integration.handler.MessageHandler;
@@ -194,6 +195,15 @@ public class MessageBus implements ChannelRegistry, EndpointRegistry, Applicatio
 		}
 	}
 
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	private void registerGateways(ApplicationContext context) {
+		Map<String, MessagingGateway> gatewayBeans =
+				(Map<String, MessagingGateway>) context.getBeansOfType(MessagingGateway.class);
+		for (Map.Entry<String, MessagingGateway> entry : gatewayBeans.entrySet()) {
+			this.registerGateway(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue());
+		}
+	}
+
 	public void initialize() {
 		synchronized (this.lifecycleMonitor) {
 			if (this.initialized || this.initializing) {
@@ -416,6 +426,18 @@ public class MessageBus implements ChannelRegistry, EndpointRegistry, Applicatio
 		}
 	}
 
+	private void registerGateway(String name, MessagingGateway gateway) {
+		if (gateway instanceof Lifecycle) {
+			this.lifecycleEndpoints.add((Lifecycle) gateway);
+			if (this.isRunning()) {
+				((Lifecycle) gateway).start();
+			}
+		}
+		if (logger.isInfoEnabled()) {
+			logger.info("registered gateway '" + name + "'");
+		}
+	}
+
 	private void activateSubscription(MessageChannel channel, Target target, Schedule schedule) {
 		SubscriptionManager manager = this.subscriptionManagers.get(channel);
 		if (manager == null) {
@@ -496,6 +518,7 @@ public class MessageBus implements ChannelRegistry, EndpointRegistry, Applicatio
 		if (event instanceof ContextRefreshedEvent) {
 			ApplicationContext context = ((ContextRefreshedEvent) event).getApplicationContext();
 			this.registerEndpoints(context);
+			this.registerGateways(context);
 			if (this.configureAsyncEventMulticaster) {
 				this.initialize();
 				this.doConfigureAsyncEventMulticaster(context);
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/endpoint/MessagingGateway.java b/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/endpoint/MessagingGateway.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..216ea96601
--- /dev/null
+++ b/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/endpoint/MessagingGateway.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2008 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.integration.endpoint;
+
+import org.springframework.integration.message.Message;
+
+/**
+ * Base interface for gateway adapters. In Spring Integration, a "gateway" is a
+ * component that sends messages to and receives messages from message channels
+ * so that application code does not need to be aware of channels or even messages.
+ *
+ * @author Mark Fisher
+ */
+public interface MessagingGateway {
+
+	void send(Object object);
+
+	Object receive();
+
+	Object sendAndReceive(Object object);
+
+	Message<?> sendAndReceiveMessage(Object object);
+
+}
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/gateway/SimpleMessagingGateway.java b/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/gateway/SimpleMessagingGateway.java
index faadf100fc..38ba78542a 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/gateway/SimpleMessagingGateway.java
+++ b/org.springframework.integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/gateway/SimpleMessagingGateway.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 package org.springframework.integration.gateway;
 
 import org.springframework.integration.channel.MessageChannel;
+import org.springframework.integration.endpoint.MessagingGateway;
 import org.springframework.integration.message.DefaultMessageCreator;
 import org.springframework.integration.message.DefaultMessageMapper;
 import org.springframework.integration.message.Message;
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ import org.springframework.util.Assert;
  * 
  * @author Mark Fisher
  */
-public class SimpleMessagingGateway extends MessagingGatewaySupport {
+public class SimpleMessagingGateway extends MessagingGatewaySupport implements MessagingGateway {
 
 	private MessageCreator messageCreator = new DefaultMessageCreator();