diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.samples/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/samples/ws/WebServiceDemo.java b/org.springframework.integration.samples/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/samples/ws/WebServiceDemo.java
index 5cb4dffa91..94a4c60531 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.samples/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/samples/ws/WebServiceDemo.java
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.samples/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/samples/ws/WebServiceDemo.java
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import org.springframework.context.support.ClassPathXmlApplicationContext;
 import org.springframework.integration.core.Message;
 import org.springframework.integration.core.MessageChannel;
 import org.springframework.integration.message.MessageBuilder;
-import org.springframework.integration.ws.AbstractWebServiceOutboundGateway;
+import org.springframework.integration.ws.WebServiceHeaders;
 
 /**
  * Demonstrating a web service invocation through a Web Service MessageHandler.
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ public class WebServiceDemo {
 		// Create the Message object
 		// In this case the service expects a SoapAction header
 		Message<String> message = MessageBuilder.withPayload(requestXml)
-				.setHeader(AbstractWebServiceOutboundGateway.SOAP_ACTION_PROPERTY_KEY, "http://tempuri.org/FahrenheitToCelsius")
+				.setHeader(WebServiceHeaders.SOAP_ACTION, "http://tempuri.org/FahrenheitToCelsius")
 				.build();
 
 		// Send the Message to the handler's input channel
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.ws/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/ws/AbstractWebServiceOutboundGateway.java b/org.springframework.integration.ws/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/ws/AbstractWebServiceOutboundGateway.java
index 76f45c98ff..b08230f9a2 100644
--- a/org.springframework.integration.ws/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/ws/AbstractWebServiceOutboundGateway.java
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.ws/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/ws/AbstractWebServiceOutboundGateway.java
@@ -40,9 +40,6 @@ import org.springframework.ws.transport.WebServiceMessageSender;
  */
 public abstract class AbstractWebServiceOutboundGateway extends AbstractReplyProducingMessageHandler {
 
-	public static final String SOAP_ACTION_PROPERTY_KEY = "spring.integration.ws.soapAction";
-
-
 	private final WebServiceTemplate webServiceTemplate;
 
 	private volatile WebServiceMessageCallback requestCallback;
@@ -98,7 +95,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractWebServiceOutboundGateway extends AbstractReplyPro
 		if (this.requestCallback != null) {
 			return this.requestCallback;
 		}
-		String soapAction = requestMessage.getHeaders().get(SOAP_ACTION_PROPERTY_KEY, String.class);
+		String soapAction = requestMessage.getHeaders().get(WebServiceHeaders.SOAP_ACTION, String.class);
 		return (soapAction != null) ? new TypeCheckingSoapActionCallback(soapAction) : null;
 	}
 
diff --git a/org.springframework.integration.ws/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/ws/WebServiceHeaders.java b/org.springframework.integration.ws/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/ws/WebServiceHeaders.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4896afaaeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/org.springframework.integration.ws/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/ws/WebServiceHeaders.java
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/*
+ * 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.ws;
+
+/**
+ * Pre-defined header names to be used when storing or retrieving
+ * Web Service properties to/from integration Message Headers.
+ * 
+ * @author Mark Fisher
+ */
+public class WebServiceHeaders {
+
+	public static final String PREFIX = "spring.integration.ws.";
+
+	public static final String SOAP_ACTION = PREFIX + "soap-action";
+
+}