diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/AndroidModule.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/AndroidModule.java
index 1adf3309418600b19ebe03882e0cb1973fd82cb8..1a46ec730a211872a2e4e4064c1e8b00c0933f7d 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/AndroidModule.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/AndroidModule.java
@@ -1,23 +1,24 @@
 package org.briarproject.android;
 
-import static android.content.Context.MODE_PRIVATE;
-
-import java.io.File;
+import android.app.Application;
 
-import javax.inject.Singleton;
+import com.google.inject.AbstractModule;
+import com.google.inject.Provides;
 
 import org.briarproject.api.android.AndroidExecutor;
 import org.briarproject.api.android.AndroidNotificationManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.android.ReferenceManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.crypto.SecretKey;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.DatabaseConfig;
+import org.briarproject.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.LifecycleManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.ui.UiCallback;
 
-import android.app.Application;
+import java.io.File;
 
-import com.google.inject.AbstractModule;
-import com.google.inject.Provides;
+import javax.inject.Singleton;
+
+import static android.content.Context.MODE_PRIVATE;
 
 public class AndroidModule extends AbstractModule {
 
@@ -81,9 +82,10 @@ public class AndroidModule extends AbstractModule {
 
 	@Provides @Singleton
 	AndroidNotificationManager getAndroidNotificationManager(
-			LifecycleManager lifecycleManager,
+			LifecycleManager lifecycleManager, EventBus eventBus,
 			AndroidNotificationManagerImpl notificationManager) {
 		lifecycleManager.register(notificationManager);
+		eventBus.addListener(notificationManager);
 		return notificationManager;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/AndroidNotificationManagerImpl.java b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/AndroidNotificationManagerImpl.java
index ca3ed6a4cef08dbe8b4a2b8e2a7f09a35c14f93f..f83f83082e1327a2750c827aa89efaaaef7b573f 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/AndroidNotificationManagerImpl.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/org/briarproject/android/AndroidNotificationManagerImpl.java
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import org.briarproject.api.db.DatabaseComponent;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.DatabaseExecutor;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.Event;
-import org.briarproject.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.EventListener;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.MessageValidatedEvent;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.SettingsUpdatedEvent;
@@ -61,7 +60,6 @@ class AndroidNotificationManagerImpl implements AndroidNotificationManager,
 
 	private final DatabaseComponent db;
 	private final Executor dbExecutor;
-	private final EventBus eventBus;
 	private final MessagingManager messagingManager;
 	private final ForumManager forumManager;
 	private final AndroidExecutor androidExecutor;
@@ -80,12 +78,11 @@ class AndroidNotificationManagerImpl implements AndroidNotificationManager,
 
 	@Inject
 	public AndroidNotificationManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db,
-			@DatabaseExecutor Executor dbExecutor, EventBus eventBus,
+			@DatabaseExecutor Executor dbExecutor,
 			MessagingManager messagingManager, ForumManager forumManager,
 			AndroidExecutor androidExecutor, Application app) {
 		this.db = db;
 		this.dbExecutor = dbExecutor;
-		this.eventBus = eventBus;
 		this.messagingManager = messagingManager;
 		this.forumManager = forumManager;
 		this.androidExecutor = androidExecutor;
@@ -94,7 +91,6 @@ class AndroidNotificationManagerImpl implements AndroidNotificationManager,
 
 	@Override
 	public boolean start() {
-		eventBus.addListener(this);
 		loadSettings();
 		return true;
 	}
@@ -114,7 +110,6 @@ class AndroidNotificationManagerImpl implements AndroidNotificationManager,
 
 	@Override
 	public boolean stop() {
-		eventBus.removeListener(this);
 		clearNotifications();
 		return true;
 	}
diff --git a/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/contact/Contact.java b/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/contact/Contact.java
index 5c65c57d21f22a0ebd3d8e5c55bc9c2c87f44480..585010ef74a7789f2fcc6c8de7cee55eb3e91d72 100644
--- a/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/contact/Contact.java
+++ b/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/contact/Contact.java
@@ -5,14 +5,37 @@ import org.briarproject.api.identity.AuthorId;
 
 public class Contact {
 
+	public enum Status {
+
+		ADDING(0), ACTIVE(1), REMOVING(2);
+
+		private final int value;
+
+		Status(int value) {
+			this.value = value;
+		}
+
+		public int getValue() {
+			return value;
+		}
+
+		public static Status fromValue(int value) {
+			for (Status s : values()) if (s.value == value) return s;
+			throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+		}
+	}
+
 	private final ContactId id;
 	private final Author author;
 	private final AuthorId localAuthorId;
+	private final Status status;
 
-	public Contact(ContactId id, Author author, AuthorId localAuthorId) {
+	public Contact(ContactId id, Author author, AuthorId localAuthorId,
+			Status status) {
 		this.id = id;
 		this.author = author;
 		this.localAuthorId = localAuthorId;
+		this.status = status;
 	}
 
 	public ContactId getId() {
@@ -27,6 +50,10 @@ public class Contact {
 		return localAuthorId;
 	}
 
+	public Status getStatus() {
+		return status;
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public int hashCode() {
 		return id.hashCode();
diff --git a/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/contact/ContactManager.java b/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/contact/ContactManager.java
index f323c07371df5267ddc814ca9961e8743b9c1a2d..9637d1491143f79e00c912a3f76e391ac1cfc0aa 100644
--- a/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/contact/ContactManager.java
+++ b/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/contact/ContactManager.java
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ import java.util.Collection;
 
 public interface ContactManager {
 
+	/** Registers a hook to be called whenever a contact is added. */
+	void registerContactAddedHook(ContactAddedHook hook);
+
+	/** Registers a hook to be called whenever a contact is removed. */
+	void registerContactRemovedHook(ContactRemovedHook hook);
+
 	/**
 	 * Stores a contact associated with the given local and remote pseudonyms,
 	 * and returns an ID for the contact.
@@ -22,4 +28,12 @@ public interface ContactManager {
 
 	/** Removes a contact and all associated state. */
 	void removeContact(ContactId c) throws DbException;
+
+	interface ContactAddedHook {
+		void contactAdded(ContactId c);
+	}
+
+	interface ContactRemovedHook {
+		void contactRemoved(ContactId c);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/db/DatabaseComponent.java b/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/db/DatabaseComponent.java
index 84cca32ea7d2333d80d60b4b7a4b3654ce5face5..476198231055a26183884abc885d89338eaa2241 100644
--- a/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/db/DatabaseComponent.java
+++ b/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/db/DatabaseComponent.java
@@ -297,6 +297,9 @@ public interface DatabaseComponent {
 	 */
 	void removeTransport(TransportId t) throws DbException;
 
+	/** Sets the status of the given contact. */
+	void setContactStatus(ContactId c, Contact.Status s) throws DbException;
+
 	/** Marks the given message as valid or invalid. */
 	void setMessageValidity(Message m, ClientId c, boolean valid)
 			throws DbException;
diff --git a/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/messaging/MessagingManager.java b/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/messaging/MessagingManager.java
index 7ce3241f05c2c6bd379fa1487c035f5e7daad534..f22a5131af2f4734f65b3dcdd4ef0734dcf8a7cf 100644
--- a/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/messaging/MessagingManager.java
+++ b/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/messaging/MessagingManager.java
@@ -13,12 +13,6 @@ public interface MessagingManager {
 	/** Returns the unique ID of the messaging client. */
 	ClientId getClientId();
 
-	/**
-	 * Informs the messaging manager that a new contact has been added.
-	 * Creates a private conversation with the contact.
-	 */
-	void addContact(ContactId c) throws DbException;
-
 	/** Stores a local private message. */
 	void addLocalMessage(PrivateMessage m) throws DbException;
 
diff --git a/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/sync/ValidationManager.java b/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/sync/ValidationManager.java
index ee1d7e967208b8ee32aaab897fa09e2f3b68be79..35fcea79c44b4c2e7dd27963cb141c69101c8cba 100644
--- a/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/sync/ValidationManager.java
+++ b/briar-api/src/org/briarproject/api/sync/ValidationManager.java
@@ -6,6 +6,26 @@ package org.briarproject.api.sync;
  */
 public interface ValidationManager {
 
+	enum Status {
+
+		UNKNOWN(0), INVALID(1), VALID(2);
+
+		private final int value;
+
+		Status(int value) {
+			this.value = value;
+		}
+
+		public int getValue() {
+			return value;
+		}
+
+		public static Status fromValue(int value) {
+			for (Status s : values()) if (s.value == value) return s;
+			throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+		}
+	}
+
 	/** Sets the message validator for the given client. */
 	void setMessageValidator(ClientId c, MessageValidator v);
 }
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/contact/ContactManagerImpl.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/contact/ContactManagerImpl.java
index 3a1648f16cc3d875e198cb81178b50e9911e8960..3eb37298d476d0db255e6af4c8806b1cf98fffcb 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/contact/ContactManagerImpl.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/contact/ContactManagerImpl.java
@@ -7,38 +7,115 @@ import org.briarproject.api.contact.ContactId;
 import org.briarproject.api.contact.ContactManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.DatabaseComponent;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.DbException;
+import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchContactException;
+import org.briarproject.api.event.ContactAddedEvent;
+import org.briarproject.api.event.ContactRemovedEvent;
+import org.briarproject.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.AuthorId;
+import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.Service;
 
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.concurrent.CopyOnWriteArrayList;
+import java.util.logging.Logger;
 
-class ContactManagerImpl implements ContactManager {
+import static java.util.logging.Level.WARNING;
+import static org.briarproject.api.contact.Contact.Status.ACTIVE;
+import static org.briarproject.api.contact.Contact.Status.ADDING;
+import static org.briarproject.api.contact.Contact.Status.REMOVING;
+
+class ContactManagerImpl implements ContactManager, Service {
+
+	private static final Logger LOG =
+			Logger.getLogger(ContactManagerImpl.class.getName());
 
 	private final DatabaseComponent db;
+	private final EventBus eventBus;
+	private final List<ContactAddedHook> addHooks;
+	private final List<ContactRemovedHook> removeHooks;
 
 	@Inject
-	ContactManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db) {
+	ContactManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db, EventBus eventBus) {
 		this.db = db;
+		this.eventBus = eventBus;
+		addHooks = new CopyOnWriteArrayList<ContactAddedHook>();
+		removeHooks = new CopyOnWriteArrayList<ContactRemovedHook>();
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean start() {
+		// Finish adding/removing any partly added/removed contacts
+		try {
+			for (Contact c : db.getContacts()) {
+				if (c.getStatus().equals(ADDING)) {
+					for (ContactAddedHook hook : addHooks)
+						hook.contactAdded(c.getId());
+					db.setContactStatus(c.getId(), ACTIVE);
+					eventBus.broadcast(new ContactAddedEvent(c.getId()));
+				} else if (c.getStatus().equals(REMOVING)) {
+					for (ContactRemovedHook hook : removeHooks)
+						hook.contactRemoved(c.getId());
+					db.removeContact(c.getId());
+					eventBus.broadcast(new ContactRemovedEvent(c.getId()));
+				}
+			}
+			return true;
+		} catch (DbException e) {
+			if (LOG.isLoggable(WARNING)) LOG.log(WARNING, e.toString(), e);
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public boolean stop() {
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void registerContactAddedHook(ContactAddedHook hook) {
+		addHooks.add(hook);
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void registerContactRemovedHook(ContactRemovedHook hook) {
+		removeHooks.add(hook);
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public ContactId addContact(Author remote, AuthorId local)
 			throws DbException {
-		return db.addContact(remote, local);
+		ContactId c = db.addContact(remote, local);
+		for (ContactAddedHook hook : addHooks) hook.contactAdded(c);
+		db.setContactStatus(c, ACTIVE);
+		eventBus.broadcast(new ContactAddedEvent(c));
+		return c;
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public Contact getContact(ContactId c) throws DbException {
-		return db.getContact(c);
+		Contact contact = db.getContact(c);
+		if (contact.getStatus().equals(ACTIVE)) return contact;
+		throw new NoSuchContactException();
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public Collection<Contact> getContacts() throws DbException {
-		return db.getContacts();
+		Collection<Contact> contacts = db.getContacts();
+		// Filter out any contacts that are being added or removed
+		List<Contact> active = new ArrayList<Contact>(contacts.size());
+		for (Contact c : contacts)
+			if (c.getStatus().equals(ACTIVE)) active.add(c);
+		return Collections.unmodifiableList(active);
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public void removeContact(ContactId c) throws DbException {
+		db.setContactStatus(c, REMOVING);
+		for (ContactRemovedHook hook : removeHooks) hook.contactRemoved(c);
 		db.removeContact(c);
+		eventBus.broadcast(new ContactRemovedEvent(c));
 	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/contact/ContactModule.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/contact/ContactModule.java
index 6bd786aa3b63715bef22dea8948ab4787a32aeeb..105aa9ef15f96d9359fd24bb9590465b6dafc5d3 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/contact/ContactModule.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/contact/ContactModule.java
@@ -1,13 +1,22 @@
 package org.briarproject.contact;
 
 import com.google.inject.AbstractModule;
+import com.google.inject.Provides;
 
 import org.briarproject.api.contact.ContactManager;
+import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.LifecycleManager;
+
+import javax.inject.Singleton;
 
 public class ContactModule extends AbstractModule {
 
 	@Override
-	protected void configure() {
-		bind(ContactManager.class).to(ContactManagerImpl.class);
+	protected void configure() {}
+
+	@Provides @Singleton
+	ContactManager getContactManager(LifecycleManager lifecycleManager,
+			ContactManagerImpl contactManager) {
+		lifecycleManager.register(contactManager);
+		return contactManager;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/Database.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/Database.java
index f512b855303e249fc994924cd5baa80737694241..39790deedcdecd9c7539fb439720998e9fbbdbcb 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/Database.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/Database.java
@@ -631,7 +631,19 @@ interface Database<T> {
 	 */
 	void resetExpiryTime(T txn, ContactId c, MessageId m) throws DbException;
 
-	/** Marks the given message as valid or invalid. */
+	/**
+	 * Sets the status of the given contact.
+	 * <p>
+	 * Locking: write.
+	 */
+	void setContactStatus(T txn, ContactId c, Contact.Status s)
+			throws DbException;
+
+	/**
+	 * Marks the given message as valid or invalid.
+	 * <p>
+	 * Locking: write.
+	 */
 	void setMessageValidity(T txn, MessageId m, boolean valid)
 			throws DbException;
 
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/DatabaseComponentImpl.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/DatabaseComponentImpl.java
index 3378b8ff537e468bc58a476ddf6bf3cf922daf48..546434ff5a0504fb0a9a3a17f2d2fff9b9014974 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/DatabaseComponentImpl.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/DatabaseComponentImpl.java
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchLocalAuthorException;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchMessageException;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchSubscriptionException;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchTransportException;
-import org.briarproject.api.event.ContactAddedEvent;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.ContactRemovedEvent;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.LocalAuthorAddedEvent;
@@ -147,7 +146,6 @@ class DatabaseComponentImpl<T> implements DatabaseComponent {
 
 	public ContactId addContact(Author remote, AuthorId local)
 			throws DbException {
-		ContactId c;
 		lock.writeLock().lock();
 		try {
 			T txn = db.startTransaction();
@@ -156,8 +154,9 @@ class DatabaseComponentImpl<T> implements DatabaseComponent {
 					throw new ContactExistsException();
 				if (!db.containsLocalAuthor(txn, local))
 					throw new NoSuchLocalAuthorException();
-				c = db.addContact(txn, remote, local);
+				ContactId c = db.addContact(txn, remote, local);
 				db.commitTransaction(txn);
+				return c;
 			} catch (DbException e) {
 				db.abortTransaction(txn);
 				throw e;
@@ -165,8 +164,6 @@ class DatabaseComponentImpl<T> implements DatabaseComponent {
 		} finally {
 			lock.writeLock().unlock();
 		}
-		eventBus.broadcast(new ContactAddedEvent(c));
-		return c;
 	}
 
 	public void addContactGroup(ContactId c, Group g) throws DbException {
@@ -1219,7 +1216,6 @@ class DatabaseComponentImpl<T> implements DatabaseComponent {
 		} finally {
 			lock.writeLock().unlock();
 		}
-		eventBus.broadcast(new ContactRemovedEvent(c));
 	}
 
 	public void removeGroup(Group g) throws DbException {
@@ -1287,6 +1283,25 @@ class DatabaseComponentImpl<T> implements DatabaseComponent {
 		eventBus.broadcast(new TransportRemovedEvent(t));
 	}
 
+	public void setContactStatus(ContactId c, Contact.Status s)
+			throws DbException {
+		lock.writeLock().lock();
+		try {
+			T txn = db.startTransaction();
+			try {
+				if (!db.containsContact(txn, c))
+					throw new NoSuchContactException();
+				db.setContactStatus(txn, c, s);
+				db.commitTransaction(txn);
+			} catch (DbException e) {
+				db.abortTransaction(txn);
+				throw e;
+			}
+		} finally {
+			lock.writeLock().unlock();
+		}
+	}
+
 	public void setMessageValidity(Message m, ClientId c, boolean valid)
 			throws DbException {
 		lock.writeLock().lock();
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/JdbcDatabase.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/JdbcDatabase.java
index 80c9a1dd90d26ca7b86bfcf720c792bce3851431..1faf11bda2acaccc11b50fe83dcd8628c88b4573 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/JdbcDatabase.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/db/JdbcDatabase.java
@@ -50,8 +50,12 @@ import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;
 import java.util.logging.Logger;
 
 import static java.util.logging.Level.WARNING;
+import static org.briarproject.api.contact.Contact.Status.ADDING;
 import static org.briarproject.api.db.Metadata.REMOVE;
 import static org.briarproject.api.sync.SyncConstants.MAX_SUBSCRIPTIONS;
+import static org.briarproject.api.sync.ValidationManager.Status.INVALID;
+import static org.briarproject.api.sync.ValidationManager.Status.UNKNOWN;
+import static org.briarproject.api.sync.ValidationManager.Status.VALID;
 import static org.briarproject.db.ExponentialBackoff.calculateExpiry;
 
 /**
@@ -60,12 +64,8 @@ import static org.briarproject.db.ExponentialBackoff.calculateExpiry;
  */
 abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 
-	private static final int SCHEMA_VERSION = 14;
-	private static final int MIN_SCHEMA_VERSION = 14;
-
-	private static final int VALIDATION_UNKNOWN = 0;
-	private static final int VALIDATION_INVALID = 1;
-	private static final int VALIDATION_VALID = 2;
+	private static final int SCHEMA_VERSION = 15;
+	private static final int MIN_SCHEMA_VERSION = 15;
 
 	private static final String CREATE_SETTINGS =
 			"CREATE TABLE settings"
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 					+ " name VARCHAR NOT NULL,"
 					+ " publicKey BINARY NOT NULL,"
 					+ " localAuthorId HASH NOT NULL,"
+					+ " status INT NOT NULL,"
 					+ " PRIMARY KEY (contactId),"
 					+ " UNIQUE (authorId),"
 					+ " FOREIGN KEY (localAuthorId)"
@@ -533,13 +534,14 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		try {
 			// Create a contact row
 			String sql = "INSERT INTO contacts"
-					+ " (authorId, name, publicKey, localAuthorId)"
-					+ " VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)";
+					+ " (authorId, name, publicKey, localAuthorId, status)"
+					+ " VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
 			ps.setBytes(1, remote.getId().getBytes());
 			ps.setString(2, remote.getName());
 			ps.setBytes(3, remote.getPublicKey());
 			ps.setBytes(4, local.getBytes());
+			ps.setInt(5, ADDING.getValue());
 			int affected = ps.executeUpdate();
 			if (affected != 1) throw new DbStateException();
 			ps.close();
@@ -747,7 +749,7 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 			ps.setBytes(2, m.getGroupId().getBytes());
 			ps.setLong(3, m.getTimestamp());
 			ps.setBoolean(4, local);
-			ps.setInt(5, local ? VALIDATION_VALID : VALIDATION_UNKNOWN);
+			ps.setInt(5, local ? VALID.getValue() : UNKNOWN.getValue());
 			byte[] raw = m.getRaw();
 			ps.setInt(6, raw.length);
 			ps.setBytes(7, raw);
@@ -1192,7 +1194,8 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		PreparedStatement ps = null;
 		ResultSet rs = null;
 		try {
-			String sql = "SELECT authorId, name, publicKey, localAuthorId"
+			String sql = "SELECT authorId, name, publicKey, localAuthorId,"
+					+ " status"
 					+ " FROM contacts"
 					+ " WHERE contactId = ?";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
@@ -1203,10 +1206,11 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 			String name = rs.getString(2);
 			byte[] publicKey = rs.getBytes(3);
 			AuthorId localAuthorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(4));
+			Contact.Status status = Contact.Status.fromValue(rs.getInt(5));
 			rs.close();
 			ps.close();
 			Author author = new Author(authorId, name, publicKey);
-			return new Contact(c, author, localAuthorId);
+			return new Contact(c, author, localAuthorId, status);
 		} catch (SQLException e) {
 			tryToClose(rs);
 			tryToClose(ps);
@@ -1240,7 +1244,7 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		ResultSet rs = null;
 		try {
 			String sql = "SELECT contactId, authorId, name, publicKey,"
-					+ " localAuthorId"
+					+ " localAuthorId, status"
 					+ " FROM contacts";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
 			rs = ps.executeQuery();
@@ -1252,7 +1256,9 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 				byte[] publicKey = rs.getBytes(4);
 				Author author = new Author(authorId, name, publicKey);
 				AuthorId localAuthorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(5));
-				contacts.add(new Contact(contactId, author, localAuthorId));
+				Contact.Status status = Contact.Status.fromValue(rs.getInt(6));
+				contacts.add(new Contact(contactId, author, localAuthorId,
+						status));
 			}
 			rs.close();
 			ps.close();
@@ -1612,7 +1618,7 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 					+ " ORDER BY timestamp DESC LIMIT ?";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
 			ps.setInt(1, c.getInt());
-			ps.setInt(2, VALIDATION_VALID);
+			ps.setInt(2, VALID.getValue());
 			ps.setLong(3, now);
 			ps.setInt(4, maxMessages);
 			rs = ps.executeQuery();
@@ -1674,7 +1680,7 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 					+ " ORDER BY timestamp DESC";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
 			ps.setInt(1, c.getInt());
-			ps.setInt(2, VALIDATION_VALID);
+			ps.setInt(2, VALID.getValue());
 			ps.setLong(3, now);
 			rs = ps.executeQuery();
 			List<MessageId> ids = new ArrayList<MessageId>();
@@ -1704,7 +1710,7 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 					+ " JOIN groups AS g ON m.groupId = g.groupId"
 					+ " WHERE valid = ? AND clientId = ?";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
-			ps.setInt(1, VALIDATION_UNKNOWN);
+			ps.setInt(1, UNKNOWN.getValue());
 			ps.setBytes(2, c.getBytes());
 			rs = ps.executeQuery();
 			List<MessageId> ids = new ArrayList<MessageId>();
@@ -1799,7 +1805,7 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 					+ " ORDER BY timestamp DESC";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
 			ps.setInt(1, c.getInt());
-			ps.setInt(2, VALIDATION_VALID);
+			ps.setInt(2, VALID.getValue());
 			ps.setLong(3, now);
 			rs = ps.executeQuery();
 			List<MessageId> ids = new ArrayList<MessageId>();
@@ -1846,7 +1852,7 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		ResultSet rs = null;
 		try {
 			String sql = "SELECT c.contactId, authorId, c.name, publicKey,"
-					+ " localAuthorId"
+					+ " localAuthorId, status"
 					+ " FROM contacts AS c"
 					+ " JOIN contactGroups AS cg"
 					+ " ON c.contactId = cg.contactId"
@@ -1862,7 +1868,9 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 				byte[] publicKey = rs.getBytes(4);
 				Author author = new Author(authorId, name, publicKey);
 				AuthorId localAuthorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(5));
-				contacts.add(new Contact(contactId, author, localAuthorId));
+				Contact.Status status = Contact.Status.fromValue(rs.getInt(6));
+				contacts.add(new Contact(contactId, author, localAuthorId,
+						status));
 			}
 			rs.close();
 			ps.close();
@@ -2687,13 +2695,30 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		}
 	}
 
+	public void setContactStatus(Connection txn, ContactId c, Contact.Status s)
+		throws DbException {
+		PreparedStatement ps = null;
+		try {
+			String sql = "UPDATE contacts SET status = ? WHERE contactId = ?";
+			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
+			ps.setInt(1, s.getValue());
+			ps.setInt(2, c.getInt());
+			int affected = ps.executeUpdate();
+			if (affected < 0 || affected > 1) throw new DbStateException();
+			ps.close();
+		} catch (SQLException e) {
+			tryToClose(ps);
+			throw new DbException(e);
+		}
+	}
+
 	public void setMessageValidity(Connection txn, MessageId m, boolean valid)
 		throws DbException {
 		PreparedStatement ps = null;
 		try {
 			String sql = "UPDATE messages SET valid = ? WHERE messageId = ?";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
-			ps.setInt(1, valid ? VALIDATION_VALID : VALIDATION_INVALID);
+			ps.setInt(1, valid ? VALID.getValue() : INVALID.getValue());
 			ps.setBytes(2, m.getBytes());
 			int affected = ps.executeUpdate();
 			if (affected < 0) throw new DbStateException();
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/forum/ForumModule.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/forum/ForumModule.java
index 60ac05bbe641f3f5efda11782c3adc0668627cae..94f0f829cdd6406702740dfe094fdcf84376f702 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/forum/ForumModule.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/forum/ForumModule.java
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import org.briarproject.api.data.ObjectReader;
 import org.briarproject.api.forum.ForumManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.forum.ForumPostFactory;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.LifecycleManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.ValidationManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.system.Clock;
 
@@ -26,16 +25,17 @@ public class ForumModule extends AbstractModule {
 	}
 
 	@Provides @Singleton
-	ForumPostValidator getValidator(LifecycleManager lifecycleManager,
-			CryptoComponent crypto, ValidationManager validationManager,
+	ForumPostValidator getValidator(ValidationManager validationManager,
+			ForumManager forumManager, CryptoComponent crypto,
 			BdfReaderFactory bdfReaderFactory,
 			BdfWriterFactory bdfWriterFactory,
 			ObjectReader<Author> authorReader, MetadataEncoder metadataEncoder,
 			Clock clock) {
 		ForumPostValidator validator = new ForumPostValidator(crypto,
-				validationManager, bdfReaderFactory, bdfWriterFactory,
-				authorReader, metadataEncoder, clock);
-		lifecycleManager.register(validator);
+				bdfReaderFactory, bdfWriterFactory, authorReader,
+				metadataEncoder, clock);
+		validationManager.setMessageValidator(forumManager.getClientId(),
+				validator);
 		return validator;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/forum/ForumPostValidator.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/forum/ForumPostValidator.java
index 5f321d33dcf55d895de118cbc0eb86af0ba7426f..1ee770cf1875bc3294df0ee9151cd87891110b80 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/forum/ForumPostValidator.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/forum/ForumPostValidator.java
@@ -15,11 +15,9 @@ import org.briarproject.api.data.MetadataEncoder;
 import org.briarproject.api.data.ObjectReader;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.Metadata;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.Service;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.Message;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.MessageId;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.MessageValidator;
-import org.briarproject.api.sync.ValidationManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.system.Clock;
 
 import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
@@ -35,15 +33,13 @@ import static org.briarproject.api.forum.ForumConstants.MAX_FORUM_POST_BODY_LENG
 import static org.briarproject.api.identity.AuthorConstants.MAX_SIGNATURE_LENGTH;
 import static org.briarproject.api.sync.SyncConstants.MESSAGE_HEADER_LENGTH;
 import static org.briarproject.api.transport.TransportConstants.MAX_CLOCK_DIFFERENCE;
-import static org.briarproject.forum.ForumManagerImpl.CLIENT_ID;
 
-class ForumPostValidator implements MessageValidator, Service {
+class ForumPostValidator implements MessageValidator {
 
 	private static final Logger LOG =
 			Logger.getLogger(ForumPostValidator.class.getName());
 
 	private final CryptoComponent crypto;
-	private final ValidationManager validationManager;
 	private final BdfReaderFactory bdfReaderFactory;
 	private final BdfWriterFactory bdfWriterFactory;
 	private final ObjectReader<Author> authorReader;
@@ -53,13 +49,11 @@ class ForumPostValidator implements MessageValidator, Service {
 
 	@Inject
 	ForumPostValidator(CryptoComponent crypto,
-			ValidationManager validationManager,
 			BdfReaderFactory bdfReaderFactory,
 			BdfWriterFactory bdfWriterFactory,
 			ObjectReader<Author> authorReader,
 			MetadataEncoder metadataEncoder, Clock clock) {
 		this.crypto = crypto;
-		this.validationManager = validationManager;
 		this.bdfReaderFactory = bdfReaderFactory;
 		this.bdfWriterFactory = bdfWriterFactory;
 		this.authorReader = authorReader;
@@ -68,17 +62,6 @@ class ForumPostValidator implements MessageValidator, Service {
 		keyParser = crypto.getSignatureKeyParser();
 	}
 
-	@Override
-	public boolean start() {
-		validationManager.setMessageValidator(CLIENT_ID, this);
-		return true;
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public boolean stop() {
-		return true;
-	}
-
 	@Override
 	public Metadata validateMessage(Message m) {
 		// Reject the message if it's too far in the future
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/AliceConnector.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/AliceConnector.java
index 794f542ec7eaa2df0ac52448ff9a668d41aeeb16..590fc54582717cf6e7c4e6e345c22d5f7c032853 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/AliceConnector.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/AliceConnector.java
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import org.briarproject.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.AuthorFactory;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
-import org.briarproject.api.messaging.MessagingManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.ConnectionManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.duplex.DuplexPlugin;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.duplex.DuplexTransportConnection;
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ class AliceConnector extends Connector {
 			StreamWriterFactory streamWriterFactory,
 			AuthorFactory authorFactory, GroupFactory groupFactory,
 			KeyManager keyManager, ConnectionManager connectionManager,
-			ContactManager contactManager, MessagingManager messagingManager,
+			ContactManager contactManager,
 			TransportPropertyManager transportPropertyManager, Clock clock,
 			boolean reuseConnection, ConnectorGroup group, DuplexPlugin plugin,
 			LocalAuthor localAuthor,
@@ -57,9 +56,8 @@ class AliceConnector extends Connector {
 		super(crypto, bdfReaderFactory, bdfWriterFactory, streamReaderFactory,
 				streamWriterFactory, authorFactory, groupFactory,
 				keyManager, connectionManager, contactManager,
-				messagingManager, transportPropertyManager, clock,
-				reuseConnection, group, plugin, localAuthor, localProps,
-				random);
+				transportPropertyManager, clock, reuseConnection, group,
+				plugin, localAuthor, localProps, random);
 	}
 
 	@Override
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/BobConnector.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/BobConnector.java
index 270ecfbf197f06f4a546ba6185efe7cb18d137da..584a06a3da458d72dacb515dce588b5cd11a1db4 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/BobConnector.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/BobConnector.java
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import org.briarproject.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.AuthorFactory;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
-import org.briarproject.api.messaging.MessagingManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.ConnectionManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.duplex.DuplexPlugin;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.duplex.DuplexTransportConnection;
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ class BobConnector extends Connector {
 			StreamWriterFactory streamWriterFactory,
 			AuthorFactory authorFactory, GroupFactory groupFactory,
 			KeyManager keyManager, ConnectionManager connectionManager,
-			ContactManager contactManager, MessagingManager messagingManager,
+			ContactManager contactManager,
 			TransportPropertyManager transportPropertyManager, Clock clock,
 			boolean reuseConnection, ConnectorGroup group, DuplexPlugin plugin,
 			LocalAuthor localAuthor,
@@ -57,9 +56,8 @@ class BobConnector extends Connector {
 		super(crypto, bdfReaderFactory, bdfWriterFactory, streamReaderFactory,
 				streamWriterFactory, authorFactory, groupFactory,
 				keyManager, connectionManager, contactManager,
-				messagingManager, transportPropertyManager, clock,
-				reuseConnection, group, plugin, localAuthor, localProps,
-				random);
+				transportPropertyManager, clock, reuseConnection, group,
+				plugin, localAuthor, localProps, random);
 	}
 
 	@Override
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/Connector.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/Connector.java
index deb68a9d8ad12a7340e285b3e1c6b6bb324ba1a5..21f84ef2f466503f16d8e624788461fa00cf2521 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/Connector.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/Connector.java
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import org.briarproject.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.AuthorFactory;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
-import org.briarproject.api.messaging.MessagingManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.ConnectionManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.duplex.DuplexPlugin;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.duplex.DuplexTransportConnection;
@@ -65,7 +64,6 @@ abstract class Connector extends Thread {
 	protected final KeyManager keyManager;
 	protected final ConnectionManager connectionManager;
 	protected final ContactManager contactManager;
-	protected final MessagingManager messagingManager;
 	protected final TransportPropertyManager transportPropertyManager;
 	protected final Clock clock;
 	protected final boolean reuseConnection;
@@ -89,7 +87,7 @@ abstract class Connector extends Thread {
 			StreamWriterFactory streamWriterFactory,
 			AuthorFactory authorFactory, GroupFactory groupFactory,
 			KeyManager keyManager, ConnectionManager connectionManager,
-			ContactManager contactManager, MessagingManager messagingManager,
+			ContactManager contactManager,
 			TransportPropertyManager transportPropertyManager, Clock clock,
 			boolean reuseConnection, ConnectorGroup group, DuplexPlugin plugin,
 			LocalAuthor localAuthor,
@@ -106,7 +104,6 @@ abstract class Connector extends Thread {
 		this.keyManager = keyManager;
 		this.connectionManager = connectionManager;
 		this.contactManager = contactManager;
-		this.messagingManager = messagingManager;
 		this.transportPropertyManager = transportPropertyManager;
 		this.clock = clock;
 		this.reuseConnection = reuseConnection;
@@ -287,8 +284,6 @@ abstract class Connector extends Thread {
 		// Derive transport keys for each transport shared with the contact
 		keyManager.addContact(contactId, remoteProps.keySet(), master,
 				timestamp, alice);
-		// Create a private messaging conversation
-		messagingManager.addContact(contactId);
 	}
 
 	protected void tryToClose(DuplexTransportConnection conn,
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/ConnectorGroup.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/ConnectorGroup.java
index 378fc54a5b421dc01b62c6119f897cb6f698a4c8..1a24b782c659fe07bdafba3c772c188a0df381a8 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/ConnectorGroup.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/ConnectorGroup.java
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import org.briarproject.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.api.invitation.InvitationListener;
 import org.briarproject.api.invitation.InvitationState;
 import org.briarproject.api.invitation.InvitationTask;
-import org.briarproject.api.messaging.MessagingManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.ConnectionManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.PluginManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.duplex.DuplexPlugin;
@@ -58,7 +57,6 @@ class ConnectorGroup extends Thread implements InvitationTask {
 	private final ConnectionManager connectionManager;
 	private final IdentityManager identityManager;
 	private final ContactManager contactManager;
-	private final MessagingManager messagingManager;
 	private final TransportPropertyManager transportPropertyManager;
 	private final Clock clock;
 	private final PluginManager pluginManager;
@@ -85,7 +83,6 @@ class ConnectorGroup extends Thread implements InvitationTask {
 			AuthorFactory authorFactory, GroupFactory groupFactory,
 			KeyManager keyManager, ConnectionManager connectionManager,
 			IdentityManager identityManager, ContactManager contactManager,
-			MessagingManager messagingManager,
 			TransportPropertyManager transportPropertyManager, Clock clock,
 			PluginManager pluginManager, AuthorId localAuthorId,
 			int localInvitationCode, int remoteInvitationCode,
@@ -102,7 +99,6 @@ class ConnectorGroup extends Thread implements InvitationTask {
 		this.connectionManager = connectionManager;
 		this.identityManager = identityManager;
 		this.contactManager = contactManager;
-		this.messagingManager = messagingManager;
 		this.transportPropertyManager = transportPropertyManager;
 		this.clock = clock;
 		this.pluginManager = pluginManager;
@@ -201,8 +197,8 @@ class ConnectorGroup extends Thread implements InvitationTask {
 		return new AliceConnector(crypto, bdfReaderFactory, bdfWriterFactory,
 				streamReaderFactory, streamWriterFactory, authorFactory,
 				groupFactory, keyManager, connectionManager, contactManager,
-				messagingManager, transportPropertyManager, clock,
-				reuseConnection, this, plugin, localAuthor, localProps, random);
+				transportPropertyManager, clock, reuseConnection, this, plugin,
+				localAuthor, localProps, random);
 	}
 
 	private Connector createBobConnector(DuplexPlugin plugin,
@@ -213,8 +209,8 @@ class ConnectorGroup extends Thread implements InvitationTask {
 		return new BobConnector(crypto, bdfReaderFactory, bdfWriterFactory,
 				streamReaderFactory, streamWriterFactory, authorFactory,
 				groupFactory, keyManager, connectionManager, contactManager,
-				messagingManager, transportPropertyManager, clock,
-				reuseConnection, this, plugin, localAuthor, localProps, random);
+				transportPropertyManager, clock, reuseConnection, this, plugin,
+				localAuthor, localProps, random);
 	}
 
 	public void localConfirmationSucceeded() {
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/InvitationTaskFactoryImpl.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/InvitationTaskFactoryImpl.java
index 9879f7f5518d33d570a16b3af9c36013abebfb8f..db131b37657976d1a434d2ee80e7e70ecb5d9804 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/InvitationTaskFactoryImpl.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/invitation/InvitationTaskFactoryImpl.java
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import org.briarproject.api.identity.AuthorId;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.IdentityManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.invitation.InvitationTask;
 import org.briarproject.api.invitation.InvitationTaskFactory;
-import org.briarproject.api.messaging.MessagingManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.ConnectionManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.plugins.PluginManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.property.TransportPropertyManager;
@@ -34,7 +33,6 @@ class InvitationTaskFactoryImpl implements InvitationTaskFactory {
 	private final ConnectionManager connectionManager;
 	private final IdentityManager identityManager;
 	private final ContactManager contactManager;
-	private final MessagingManager messagingManager;
 	private final TransportPropertyManager transportPropertyManager;
 	private final Clock clock;
 	private final PluginManager pluginManager;
@@ -47,7 +45,6 @@ class InvitationTaskFactoryImpl implements InvitationTaskFactory {
 			AuthorFactory authorFactory, GroupFactory groupFactory,
 			KeyManager keyManager, ConnectionManager connectionManager,
 			IdentityManager identityManager, ContactManager contactManager,
-			MessagingManager messagingManager,
 			TransportPropertyManager transportPropertyManager,
 			Clock clock, PluginManager pluginManager) {
 		this.crypto = crypto;
@@ -61,7 +58,6 @@ class InvitationTaskFactoryImpl implements InvitationTaskFactory {
 		this.connectionManager = connectionManager;
 		this.identityManager = identityManager;
 		this.contactManager = contactManager;
-		this.messagingManager = messagingManager;
 		this.transportPropertyManager = transportPropertyManager;
 		this.clock = clock;
 		this.pluginManager = pluginManager;
@@ -72,8 +68,7 @@ class InvitationTaskFactoryImpl implements InvitationTaskFactory {
 		return new ConnectorGroup(crypto, bdfReaderFactory, bdfWriterFactory,
 				streamReaderFactory, streamWriterFactory, authorFactory,
 				groupFactory, keyManager, connectionManager, identityManager,
-				contactManager, messagingManager, transportPropertyManager,
-				clock, pluginManager, localAuthorId, localCode, remoteCode,
-				reuseConnection);
+				contactManager, transportPropertyManager, clock, pluginManager,
+				localAuthorId, localCode, remoteCode, reuseConnection);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/MessagingManagerImpl.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/MessagingManagerImpl.java
index 39ba71647e09b77b985d94a39b9b0b777f1e6a7d..37f5acafe8f4b15c1bd5725e9a58c860f12f22c2 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/MessagingManagerImpl.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/MessagingManagerImpl.java
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import org.briarproject.api.FormatException;
 import org.briarproject.api.UniqueId;
 import org.briarproject.api.contact.Contact;
 import org.briarproject.api.contact.ContactId;
+import org.briarproject.api.contact.ContactManager.ContactAddedHook;
+import org.briarproject.api.contact.ContactManager.ContactRemovedHook;
 import org.briarproject.api.data.BdfDictionary;
 import org.briarproject.api.data.BdfReader;
 import org.briarproject.api.data.BdfReaderFactory;
@@ -42,7 +44,8 @@ import static java.util.logging.Level.WARNING;
 import static org.briarproject.api.messaging.MessagingConstants.MAX_PRIVATE_MESSAGE_BODY_LENGTH;
 import static org.briarproject.api.sync.SyncConstants.MESSAGE_HEADER_LENGTH;
 
-class MessagingManagerImpl implements MessagingManager {
+class MessagingManagerImpl implements MessagingManager, ContactAddedHook,
+		ContactRemovedHook {
 
 	static final ClientId CLIENT_ID = new ClientId(StringUtils.fromHexString(
 			"6bcdc006c0910b0f44e40644c3b31f1a"
@@ -72,18 +75,17 @@ class MessagingManagerImpl implements MessagingManager {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public ClientId getClientId() {
-		return CLIENT_ID;
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public void addContact(ContactId c) throws DbException {
-		// Create the conversation group
-		Group conversation = createConversationGroup(db.getContact(c));
-		// Subscribe to the group and share it with the contact
-		db.addGroup(conversation);
-		db.addContactGroup(c, conversation);
-		db.setVisibility(conversation.getId(), Collections.singletonList(c));
+	public void contactAdded(ContactId c) {
+		try {
+			// Create the conversation group
+			Group g = createConversationGroup(db.getContact(c));
+			// Subscribe to the group and share it with the contact
+			db.addGroup(g);
+			db.addContactGroup(c, g);
+			db.setVisibility(g.getId(), Collections.singletonList(c));
+		} catch (DbException e) {
+			if (LOG.isLoggable(WARNING)) LOG.log(WARNING, e.toString(), e);
+		}
 	}
 
 	private Group createConversationGroup(Contact c) {
@@ -113,6 +115,20 @@ class MessagingManagerImpl implements MessagingManager {
 		return out.toByteArray();
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public void contactRemoved(ContactId c) {
+		try {
+			db.removeGroup(createConversationGroup(db.getContact(c)));
+		} catch (DbException e) {
+			if (LOG.isLoggable(WARNING)) LOG.log(WARNING, e.toString(), e);
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public ClientId getClientId() {
+		return CLIENT_ID;
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public void addLocalMessage(PrivateMessage m) throws DbException {
 		BdfDictionary d = new BdfDictionary();
@@ -131,7 +147,7 @@ class MessagingManagerImpl implements MessagingManager {
 
 	@Override
 	public ContactId getContactId(GroupId g) throws DbException {
-		// TODO: Make this more efficient
+		// TODO: Use metadata to attach the contact ID to the group
 		for (Contact c : db.getContacts()) {
 			Group conversation = createConversationGroup(c);
 			if (conversation.getId().equals(g)) return c.getId();
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/MessagingModule.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/MessagingModule.java
index 95a28a3f130c638c3dab0af04dedd470fd8938d5..42827c2c076e6f1e0b0bb934de4fc25cda00fc6e 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/MessagingModule.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/MessagingModule.java
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ package org.briarproject.messaging;
 import com.google.inject.AbstractModule;
 import com.google.inject.Provides;
 
+import org.briarproject.api.contact.ContactManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.data.BdfReaderFactory;
 import org.briarproject.api.data.MetadataEncoder;
-import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.LifecycleManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.messaging.MessagingManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.messaging.PrivateMessageFactory;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.ValidationManager;
@@ -17,18 +17,26 @@ public class MessagingModule extends AbstractModule {
 
 	@Override
 	protected void configure() {
-		bind(MessagingManager.class).to(MessagingManagerImpl.class);
 		bind(PrivateMessageFactory.class).to(PrivateMessageFactoryImpl.class);
 	}
 
 	@Provides @Singleton
-	PrivateMessageValidator getValidator(LifecycleManager lifecycleManager,
-			ValidationManager validationManager,
+	PrivateMessageValidator getValidator(ValidationManager validationManager,
+			MessagingManager messagingManager,
 			BdfReaderFactory bdfReaderFactory, MetadataEncoder metadataEncoder,
 			Clock clock) {
 		PrivateMessageValidator validator = new PrivateMessageValidator(
-				validationManager, bdfReaderFactory, metadataEncoder, clock);
-		lifecycleManager.register(validator);
+				bdfReaderFactory, metadataEncoder, clock);
+		validationManager.setMessageValidator(messagingManager.getClientId(),
+				validator);
 		return validator;
 	}
+
+	@Provides @Singleton
+	MessagingManager getMessagingManager(ContactManager contactManager,
+			MessagingManagerImpl messagingManager) {
+		contactManager.registerContactAddedHook(messagingManager);
+		contactManager.registerContactRemovedHook(messagingManager);
+		return messagingManager;
+	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/PrivateMessageValidator.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/PrivateMessageValidator.java
index c97c66b6af2d37af84368a9d1ef53c6991508424..c0134934f1283334830f0910ca152eebb7917148 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/PrivateMessageValidator.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/messaging/PrivateMessageValidator.java
@@ -7,11 +7,9 @@ import org.briarproject.api.data.BdfReader;
 import org.briarproject.api.data.BdfReaderFactory;
 import org.briarproject.api.data.MetadataEncoder;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.Metadata;
-import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.Service;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.Message;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.MessageId;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.MessageValidator;
-import org.briarproject.api.sync.ValidationManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.system.Clock;
 
 import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
@@ -24,39 +22,24 @@ import static org.briarproject.api.messaging.MessagingConstants.MAX_CONTENT_TYPE
 import static org.briarproject.api.messaging.MessagingConstants.MAX_PRIVATE_MESSAGE_BODY_LENGTH;
 import static org.briarproject.api.sync.SyncConstants.MESSAGE_HEADER_LENGTH;
 import static org.briarproject.api.transport.TransportConstants.MAX_CLOCK_DIFFERENCE;
-import static org.briarproject.messaging.MessagingManagerImpl.CLIENT_ID;
 
-class PrivateMessageValidator implements MessageValidator, Service {
+class PrivateMessageValidator implements MessageValidator {
 
 	private static final Logger LOG =
 			Logger.getLogger(PrivateMessageValidator.class.getName());
 
-	private final ValidationManager validationManager;
 	private final BdfReaderFactory bdfReaderFactory;
 	private final MetadataEncoder metadataEncoder;
 	private final Clock clock;
 
 	@Inject
-	PrivateMessageValidator(ValidationManager validationManager,
-			BdfReaderFactory bdfReaderFactory, MetadataEncoder metadataEncoder,
-			Clock clock) {
-		this.validationManager = validationManager;
+	PrivateMessageValidator(BdfReaderFactory bdfReaderFactory,
+			MetadataEncoder metadataEncoder, Clock clock) {
 		this.bdfReaderFactory = bdfReaderFactory;
 		this.metadataEncoder = metadataEncoder;
 		this.clock = clock;
 	}
 
-	@Override
-	public boolean start() {
-		validationManager.setMessageValidator(CLIENT_ID, this);
-		return true;
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public boolean stop() {
-		return true;
-	}
-
 	@Override
 	public Metadata validateMessage(Message m) {
 		// Reject the message if it's too far in the future
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/sync/SyncModule.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/sync/SyncModule.java
index cce031fd94941fe09e7059325a3118861052f308..77633c7d2fbea88d2f20bd707db4b3d7b541e14a 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/sync/SyncModule.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/sync/SyncModule.java
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ import com.google.inject.AbstractModule;
 import com.google.inject.Provides;
 
 import org.briarproject.api.data.ObjectReader;
+import org.briarproject.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.api.identity.AuthorFactory;
-import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.LifecycleManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.Group;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.GroupFactory;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.MessageFactory;
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ public class SyncModule extends AbstractModule {
 	}
 
 	@Provides @Singleton
-	ValidationManager getValidationManager(LifecycleManager lifecycleManager,
+	ValidationManager getValidationManager(EventBus eventBus,
 			ValidationManagerImpl validationManager) {
-		lifecycleManager.register(validationManager);
+		eventBus.addListener(validationManager);
 		return validationManager;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/sync/ValidationManagerImpl.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/sync/ValidationManagerImpl.java
index d3e8612661ad52afda70a0c1be32dd090c1dabc2..9f977ef15bd076bb80721f7ed2285e3b63cee238 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/sync/ValidationManagerImpl.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/sync/ValidationManagerImpl.java
@@ -11,10 +11,8 @@ import org.briarproject.api.db.Metadata;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchMessageException;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchSubscriptionException;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.Event;
-import org.briarproject.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.EventListener;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.MessageAddedEvent;
-import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.Service;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.ClientId;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.Message;
@@ -31,8 +29,7 @@ import java.util.logging.Logger;
 import static java.util.logging.Level.WARNING;
 import static org.briarproject.api.sync.SyncConstants.MESSAGE_HEADER_LENGTH;
 
-class ValidationManagerImpl implements ValidationManager, Service,
-		EventListener {
+class ValidationManagerImpl implements ValidationManager, EventListener {
 
 	private static final Logger LOG =
 			Logger.getLogger(ValidationManagerImpl.class.getName());
@@ -40,32 +37,18 @@ class ValidationManagerImpl implements ValidationManager, Service,
 	private final DatabaseComponent db;
 	private final Executor dbExecutor;
 	private final Executor cryptoExecutor;
-	private final EventBus eventBus;
 	private final Map<ClientId, MessageValidator> validators;
 
 	@Inject
 	ValidationManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db,
 			@DatabaseExecutor Executor dbExecutor,
-			@CryptoExecutor Executor cryptoExecutor, EventBus eventBus) {
+			@CryptoExecutor Executor cryptoExecutor) {
 		this.db = db;
 		this.dbExecutor = dbExecutor;
 		this.cryptoExecutor = cryptoExecutor;
-		this.eventBus = eventBus;
 		validators = new ConcurrentHashMap<ClientId, MessageValidator>();
 	}
 
-	@Override
-	public boolean start() {
-		eventBus.addListener(this);
-		return true;
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public boolean stop() {
-		eventBus.removeListener(this);
-		return true;
-	}
-
 	@Override
 	public void setMessageValidator(ClientId c, MessageValidator v) {
 		validators.put(c, v);
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/transport/KeyManagerImpl.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/transport/KeyManagerImpl.java
index aa50d8e5f60bb544301e63e8c9792fb6af963c03..9804cab617f39db1b14bc6df07053f1dbe62a078 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/transport/KeyManagerImpl.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/transport/KeyManagerImpl.java
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import org.briarproject.api.db.DatabaseExecutor;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.ContactRemovedEvent;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.Event;
-import org.briarproject.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.EventListener;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.TransportAddedEvent;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.TransportRemovedEvent;
@@ -38,19 +37,17 @@ class KeyManagerImpl implements KeyManager, Service, EventListener {
 	private final DatabaseComponent db;
 	private final CryptoComponent crypto;
 	private final ExecutorService dbExecutor;
-	private final EventBus eventBus;
 	private final Timer timer;
 	private final Clock clock;
 	private final ConcurrentHashMap<TransportId, TransportKeyManager> managers;
 
 	@Inject
 	KeyManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db, CryptoComponent crypto,
-			@DatabaseExecutor ExecutorService dbExecutor, EventBus eventBus,
-			Timer timer, Clock clock) {
+			@DatabaseExecutor ExecutorService dbExecutor, Timer timer,
+			Clock clock) {
 		this.db = db;
 		this.crypto = crypto;
 		this.dbExecutor = dbExecutor;
-		this.eventBus = eventBus;
 		this.timer = timer;
 		this.clock = clock;
 		managers = new ConcurrentHashMap<TransportId, TransportKeyManager>();
@@ -58,7 +55,6 @@ class KeyManagerImpl implements KeyManager, Service, EventListener {
 
 	@Override
 	public boolean start() {
-		eventBus.addListener(this);
 		try {
 			Map<TransportId, Integer> latencies = db.getTransportLatencies();
 			for (Entry<TransportId, Integer> e : latencies.entrySet())
@@ -72,7 +68,6 @@ class KeyManagerImpl implements KeyManager, Service, EventListener {
 
 	@Override
 	public boolean stop() {
-		eventBus.removeListener(this);
 		return true;
 	}
 
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/transport/TransportModule.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/transport/TransportModule.java
index 36a7b3e3e7cb17dd5689006ea2fd1e4013ec18ae..367340a4cc3113cad2bd89f133a4dd2a7f71bca2 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/transport/TransportModule.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/transport/TransportModule.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package org.briarproject.transport;
 import com.google.inject.AbstractModule;
 import com.google.inject.Provides;
 
+import org.briarproject.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.api.lifecycle.LifecycleManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.transport.KeyManager;
 import org.briarproject.api.transport.StreamReaderFactory;
@@ -20,8 +21,9 @@ public class TransportModule extends AbstractModule {
 
 	@Provides @Singleton
 	KeyManager getKeyManager(LifecycleManager lifecycleManager,
-			KeyManagerImpl keyManager) {
+			EventBus eventBus, KeyManagerImpl keyManager) {
 		lifecycleManager.register(keyManager);
+		eventBus.addListener(keyManager);
 		return keyManager;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/db/DatabaseComponentImplTest.java b/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/db/DatabaseComponentImplTest.java
index a6bd31ab33e861eda3e7a2803a8fa01b9126a80c..b73ac3ee0bd0be89f1e9c0452d6910bad5ee8675 100644
--- a/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/db/DatabaseComponentImplTest.java
+++ b/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/db/DatabaseComponentImplTest.java
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@ import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchLocalAuthorException;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchMessageException;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchSubscriptionException;
 import org.briarproject.api.db.NoSuchTransportException;
-import org.briarproject.api.event.ContactAddedEvent;
-import org.briarproject.api.event.ContactRemovedEvent;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.LocalAuthorAddedEvent;
 import org.briarproject.api.event.LocalAuthorRemovedEvent;
@@ -59,6 +57,7 @@ import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
 
+import static org.briarproject.api.contact.Contact.Status.ACTIVE;
 import static org.briarproject.api.identity.AuthorConstants.MAX_PUBLIC_KEY_LENGTH;
 import static org.briarproject.api.sync.SyncConstants.MAX_GROUP_DESCRIPTOR_LENGTH;
 import static org.briarproject.db.DatabaseConstants.MAX_OFFERED_MESSAGES;
@@ -113,7 +112,7 @@ public class DatabaseComponentImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 				"bar", "baz"));
 		maxLatency = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
 		contactId = new ContactId(234);
-		contact = new Contact(contactId, author, localAuthorId);
+		contact = new Contact(contactId, author, localAuthorId, ACTIVE);
 	}
 
 	private <T> DatabaseComponent createDatabaseComponent(Database<T> database,
@@ -150,7 +149,6 @@ public class DatabaseComponentImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 			will(returnValue(true));
 			oneOf(database).addContact(txn, author, localAuthorId);
 			will(returnValue(contactId));
-			oneOf(eventBus).broadcast(with(any(ContactAddedEvent.class)));
 			// getContacts()
 			oneOf(database).getContacts(txn);
 			will(returnValue(Collections.singletonList(contact)));
@@ -183,7 +181,6 @@ public class DatabaseComponentImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 			oneOf(database).containsContact(txn, contactId);
 			will(returnValue(true));
 			oneOf(database).removeContact(txn, contactId);
-			oneOf(eventBus).broadcast(with(any(ContactRemovedEvent.class)));
 			// removeLocalAuthor()
 			oneOf(database).containsLocalAuthor(txn, localAuthorId);
 			will(returnValue(true));
@@ -671,7 +668,6 @@ public class DatabaseComponentImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 			oneOf(database).addContact(txn, author, localAuthorId);
 			will(returnValue(contactId));
 			oneOf(database).commitTransaction(txn);
-			oneOf(eventBus).broadcast(with(any(ContactAddedEvent.class)));
 			// Check whether the transport is in the DB (which it's not)
 			exactly(6).of(database).startTransaction();
 			will(returnValue(txn));
diff --git a/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/sync/ConstantsTest.java b/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/sync/ConstantsTest.java
index 6b92a026952a8de35dfa2b8421df2e98e665dc62..c2fa6bf5e121260d01ff13b73c3e2cf588063d52 100644
--- a/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/sync/ConstantsTest.java
+++ b/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/sync/ConstantsTest.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import org.briarproject.api.sync.PacketWriterFactory;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.Request;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.SubscriptionUpdate;
 import org.briarproject.api.sync.TransportUpdate;
+import org.briarproject.contact.ContactModule;
 import org.briarproject.crypto.CryptoModule;
 import org.briarproject.data.DataModule;
 import org.briarproject.db.DatabaseModule;
@@ -73,9 +74,9 @@ public class ConstantsTest extends BriarTestCase {
 	public ConstantsTest() throws Exception {
 		Injector i = Guice.createInjector(new TestDatabaseModule(),
 				new TestLifecycleModule(), new TestSystemModule(),
-				new CryptoModule(), new DatabaseModule(), new DataModule(),
-				new EventModule(), new ForumModule(), new MessagingModule(),
-				new SyncModule());
+				new ContactModule(), new CryptoModule(), new DatabaseModule(),
+				new DataModule(), new EventModule(), new ForumModule(),
+				new MessagingModule(), new SyncModule());
 		crypto = i.getInstance(CryptoComponent.class);
 		groupFactory = i.getInstance(GroupFactory.class);
 		authorFactory = i.getInstance(AuthorFactory.class);
diff --git a/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/sync/SimplexMessagingIntegrationTest.java b/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/sync/SimplexMessagingIntegrationTest.java
index 07eb61d57ac582cc8a0b6d3fa1bef64e2eb909a0..eb0db4854e5e28d2ecef18c2d560e23fc3cd203f 100644
--- a/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/sync/SimplexMessagingIntegrationTest.java
+++ b/briar-tests/src/org/briarproject/sync/SimplexMessagingIntegrationTest.java
@@ -129,8 +129,6 @@ public class SimplexMessagingIntegrationTest extends BriarTestCase {
 		Author bobAuthor = new Author(bobId, "Bob",
 				new byte[MAX_PUBLIC_KEY_LENGTH]);
 		ContactId contactId = contactManager.addContact(bobAuthor, aliceId);
-		// Create a private conversation
-		messagingManager.addContact(contactId);
 		// Derive and store the transport keys
 		keyManager.addContact(contactId, Collections.singletonList(transportId),
 				master, timestamp, true);
@@ -174,14 +172,14 @@ public class SimplexMessagingIntegrationTest extends BriarTestCase {
 		IdentityManager identityManager =
 				bob.getInstance(IdentityManager.class);
 		ContactManager contactManager = bob.getInstance(ContactManager.class);
-		MessagingManager messagingManager =
-				bob.getInstance(MessagingManager.class);
 		KeyManager keyManager = bob.getInstance(KeyManager.class);
 		StreamReaderFactory streamReaderFactory =
 				bob.getInstance(StreamReaderFactory.class);
 		PacketReaderFactory packetReaderFactory =
 				bob.getInstance(PacketReaderFactory.class);
 		EventBus eventBus = bob.getInstance(EventBus.class);
+		// Bob needs a MessagingManager even though we're not using it directly
+		bob.getInstance(MessagingManager.class);
 
 		// Start the lifecyle manager
 		lifecycleManager.startServices();
@@ -196,8 +194,6 @@ public class SimplexMessagingIntegrationTest extends BriarTestCase {
 		Author aliceAuthor = new Author(aliceId, "Alice",
 				new byte[MAX_PUBLIC_KEY_LENGTH]);
 		ContactId contactId = contactManager.addContact(aliceAuthor, bobId);
-		// Create a private conversation
-		messagingManager.addContact(contactId);
 		// Derive and store the transport keys
 		keyManager.addContact(contactId, Collections.singletonList(transportId),
 				master, timestamp, false);