diff --git a/accounts/abi/bind/backend.go b/accounts/abi/bind/backend.go
index 7442557cce..604e1ef267 100644
--- a/accounts/abi/bind/backend.go
+++ b/accounts/abi/bind/backend.go
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ type ContractCaller interface {
 // used when the user does not provide some needed values, but rather leaves it up
 // to the transactor to decide.
 type ContractTransactor interface {
-	// Nonce retrieves the current pending nonce associated with an account.
+	// PendingAccountNonce retrieves the current pending nonce associated with an
+	// account.
 	PendingAccountNonce(account common.Address) (uint64, error)
 
 	// SuggestGasPrice retrieves the currently suggested gas price to allow a timely
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ type ContractTransactor interface {
 	EstimateGasLimit(sender common.Address, contract *common.Address, value *big.Int, data []byte) (*big.Int, error)
 
 	// SendTransaction injects the transaction into the pending pool for execution.
-	SendTransaction(*types.Transaction) error
+	SendTransaction(tx *types.Transaction) error
 }
 
 // ContractBackend defines the methods needed to allow operating with contract
diff --git a/cmd/geth/main.go b/cmd/geth/main.go
index ffeb7c1e54..a023497a76 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/main.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/main.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"encoding/hex"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
@@ -41,31 +42,48 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/metrics"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/node"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/release"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
 
 const (
-	ClientIdentifier = "Geth"
-	Version          = "1.5.0-unstable"
-	VersionMajor     = 1
-	VersionMinor     = 5
-	VersionPatch     = 0
+	clientIdentifier = "Geth"     // Client identifier to advertise over the network
+	versionMajor     = 1          // Major version component of the current release
+	versionMinor     = 5          // Minor version component of the current release
+	versionPatch     = 0          // Patch version component of the current release
+	versionMeta      = "unstable" // Version metadata to append to the version string
+
+	versionOracle = "0x48a117313039b73ab02fb9f73e04a66defe123ec" // Ethereum address of the Geth release oracle
 )
 
 var (
-	gitCommit       string // set via linker flagg
-	nodeNameVersion string
-	app             *cli.App
+	gitCommit string         // Git SHA1 commit hash of the release (set via linker flags)
+	verString string         // Combined textual representation of all the version components
+	relConfig release.Config // Structured version information and release oracle config
+	app       *cli.App
 )
 
 func init() {
-	if gitCommit == "" {
-		nodeNameVersion = Version
-	} else {
-		nodeNameVersion = Version + "-" + gitCommit[:8]
+	// Construct the textual version string from the individual components
+	verString = fmt.Sprintf("%d.%d.%d", versionMajor, versionMinor, versionPatch)
+	if versionMeta != "" {
+		verString += "-" + versionMeta
+	}
+	if gitCommit != "" {
+		verString += "-" + gitCommit[:8]
 	}
+	// Construct the version release oracle configuration
+	relConfig.Oracle = common.HexToAddress(versionOracle)
 
-	app = utils.NewApp(Version, "the go-ethereum command line interface")
+	relConfig.Major = uint32(versionMajor)
+	relConfig.Minor = uint32(versionMinor)
+	relConfig.Patch = uint32(versionPatch)
+
+	commit, _ := hex.DecodeString(gitCommit)
+	copy(relConfig.Commit[:], commit)
+
+	// Initialize the CLI app and start Geth
+	app = utils.NewApp(verString, "the go-ethereum command line interface")
 	app.Action = geth
 	app.HideVersion = true // we have a command to print the version
 	app.Commands = []cli.Command{
@@ -257,7 +275,7 @@ func makeDefaultExtra() []byte {
 		Name      string
 		GoVersion string
 		Os        string
-	}{uint(VersionMajor<<16 | VersionMinor<<8 | VersionPatch), ClientIdentifier, runtime.Version(), runtime.GOOS}
+	}{uint(versionMajor<<16 | versionMinor<<8 | versionPatch), clientIdentifier, runtime.Version(), runtime.GOOS}
 	extra, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(clientInfo)
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.V(logger.Warn).Infoln("error setting canonical miner information:", err)
@@ -275,7 +293,7 @@ func makeDefaultExtra() []byte {
 // It creates a default node based on the command line arguments and runs it in
 // blocking mode, waiting for it to be shut down.
 func geth(ctx *cli.Context) {
-	node := utils.MakeSystemNode(ClientIdentifier, nodeNameVersion, makeDefaultExtra(), ctx)
+	node := utils.MakeSystemNode(clientIdentifier, verString, relConfig, makeDefaultExtra(), ctx)
 	startNode(ctx, node)
 	node.Wait()
 }
@@ -339,7 +357,7 @@ func initGenesis(ctx *cli.Context) {
 // same time.
 func console(ctx *cli.Context) {
 	// Create and start the node based on the CLI flags
-	node := utils.MakeSystemNode(ClientIdentifier, nodeNameVersion, makeDefaultExtra(), ctx)
+	node := utils.MakeSystemNode(clientIdentifier, verString, relConfig, makeDefaultExtra(), ctx)
 	startNode(ctx, node)
 
 	// Attach to the newly started node, and either execute script or become interactive
@@ -372,7 +390,7 @@ func console(ctx *cli.Context) {
 // of the JavaScript files specified as command arguments.
 func execScripts(ctx *cli.Context) {
 	// Create and start the node based on the CLI flags
-	node := utils.MakeSystemNode(ClientIdentifier, nodeNameVersion, makeDefaultExtra(), ctx)
+	node := utils.MakeSystemNode(clientIdentifier, verString, relConfig, makeDefaultExtra(), ctx)
 	startNode(ctx, node)
 	defer node.Stop()
 
@@ -488,11 +506,8 @@ func gpubench(ctx *cli.Context) {
 }
 
 func version(c *cli.Context) {
-	fmt.Println(ClientIdentifier)
-	fmt.Println("Version:", Version)
-	if gitCommit != "" {
-		fmt.Println("Git Commit:", gitCommit)
-	}
+	fmt.Println(clientIdentifier)
+	fmt.Println("Version:", version)
 	fmt.Println("Protocol Versions:", eth.ProtocolVersions)
 	fmt.Println("Network Id:", c.GlobalInt(utils.NetworkIdFlag.Name))
 	fmt.Println("Go Version:", runtime.Version())
diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index 86e9e9b0d7..43dbc37f74 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/versions"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
@@ -49,6 +48,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/p2p/nat"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/pow"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/release"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/whisper"
 )
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ func MakePasswordList(ctx *cli.Context) []string {
 
 // MakeSystemNode sets up a local node, configures the services to launch and
 // assembles the P2P protocol stack.
-func MakeSystemNode(name, version string, extra []byte, ctx *cli.Context) *node.Node {
+func MakeSystemNode(name, version string, relconf release.Config, extra []byte, ctx *cli.Context) *node.Node {
 	// Avoid conflicting network flags
 	networks, netFlags := 0, []cli.BoolFlag{DevModeFlag, TestNetFlag, OlympicFlag}
 	for _, flag := range netFlags {
@@ -773,12 +773,10 @@ func MakeSystemNode(name, version string, extra []byte, ctx *cli.Context) *node.
 			Fatalf("Failed to register the Whisper service: %v", err)
 		}
 	}
-
-	err = stack.Register(func(ctx *node.ServiceContext) (node.Service, error) {
-		return versions.NewVersionCheck(ctx)
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		Fatalf("Failed to register the Version Check service: %v", err)
+	if err := stack.Register(func(ctx *node.ServiceContext) (node.Service, error) {
+		return release.NewReleaseService(ctx, relconf)
+	}); err != nil {
+		Fatalf("Failed to register the Geth release oracle service: %v", err)
 	}
 	return stack
 }
diff --git a/contracts/release/contract.go b/contracts/release/contract.go
deleted file mode 100644
index ffdcc14cd2..0000000000
--- a/contracts/release/contract.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,474 +0,0 @@
-// This file is an automatically generated Go binding. Do not modify as any
-// change will likely be lost upon the next re-generation!
-
-package release
-
-import (
-	"math/big"
-	"strings"
-
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts/abi"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts/abi/bind"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
-)
-
-// ReleaseOracleABI is the input ABI used to generate the binding from.
-const ReleaseOracleABI = `[{"constant":false,"inputs":[],"name":"Nuke","outputs":[],"type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"major","type":"uint32"},{"name":"minor","type":"uint32"},{"name":"patch","type":"uint32"},{"name":"commit","type":"bytes20"}],"name":"Release","outputs":[],"type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"AuthProposals","outputs":[{"name":"","type":"address[]"}],"type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"CurrentVersion","outputs":[{"name":"major","type":"uint32"},{"name":"minor","type":"uint32"},{"name":"patch","type":"uint32"},{"name":"commit","type":"bytes20"},{"name":"time","type":"uint256"}],"type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"ProposedVersion","outputs":[{"name":"major","type":"uint32"},{"name":"minor","type":"uint32"},{"name":"patch","type":"uint32"},{"name":"commit","type":"bytes20"},{"name":"pass","type":"address[]"},{"name":"fail","type":"address[]"}],"type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"user","type":"address"}],"name":"Promote","outputs":[],"type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"major","type":"uint32"},{"name":"minor","type":"uint32"},{"name":"patch","type":"uint32"},{"name":"commit","type":"bytes20"},{"name":"release","type":"bool"}],"name":"updateRelease","outputs":[],"type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"user","type":"address"}],"name":"Demote","outputs":[],"type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"name":"user","type":"address"}],"name":"AuthVotes","outputs":[{"name":"promote","type":"address[]"},{"name":"demote","type":"address[]"}],"type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"Signers","outputs":[{"name":"","type":"address[]"}],"type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"user","type":"address"},{"name":"authorize","type":"bool"}],"name":"updateSigner","outputs":[],"type":"function"},{"inputs":[],"type":"constructor"}]`
-
-// ReleaseOracleBin is the compiled bytecode used for deploying new contracts.
-const ReleaseOracleBin = `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`
-
-// DeployReleaseOracle deploys a new Ethereum contract, binding an instance of ReleaseOracle to it.
-func DeployReleaseOracle(auth *bind.TransactOpts, backend bind.ContractBackend) (common.Address, *types.Transaction, *ReleaseOracle, error) {
-	parsed, err := abi.JSON(strings.NewReader(ReleaseOracleABI))
-	if err != nil {
-		return common.Address{}, nil, nil, err
-	}
-	address, tx, contract, err := bind.DeployContract(auth, parsed, common.FromHex(ReleaseOracleBin), backend)
-	if err != nil {
-		return common.Address{}, nil, nil, err
-	}
-	return address, tx, &ReleaseOracle{ReleaseOracleCaller: ReleaseOracleCaller{contract: contract}, ReleaseOracleTransactor: ReleaseOracleTransactor{contract: contract}}, nil
-}
-
-// ReleaseOracle is an auto generated Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
-type ReleaseOracle struct {
-	ReleaseOracleCaller     // Read-only binding to the contract
-	ReleaseOracleTransactor // Write-only binding to the contract
-}
-
-// ReleaseOracleCaller is an auto generated read-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
-type ReleaseOracleCaller struct {
-	contract *bind.BoundContract // Generic contract wrapper for the low level calls
-}
-
-// ReleaseOracleTransactor is an auto generated write-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
-type ReleaseOracleTransactor struct {
-	contract *bind.BoundContract // Generic contract wrapper for the low level calls
-}
-
-// ReleaseOracleSession is an auto generated Go binding around an Ethereum contract,
-// with pre-set call and transact options.
-type ReleaseOracleSession struct {
-	Contract     *ReleaseOracle    // Generic contract binding to set the session for
-	CallOpts     bind.CallOpts     // Call options to use throughout this session
-	TransactOpts bind.TransactOpts // Transaction auth options to use throughout this session
-}
-
-// ReleaseOracleCallerSession is an auto generated read-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract,
-// with pre-set call options.
-type ReleaseOracleCallerSession struct {
-	Contract *ReleaseOracleCaller // Generic contract caller binding to set the session for
-	CallOpts bind.CallOpts        // Call options to use throughout this session
-}
-
-// ReleaseOracleTransactorSession is an auto generated write-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract,
-// with pre-set transact options.
-type ReleaseOracleTransactorSession struct {
-	Contract     *ReleaseOracleTransactor // Generic contract transactor binding to set the session for
-	TransactOpts bind.TransactOpts        // Transaction auth options to use throughout this session
-}
-
-// ReleaseOracleRaw is an auto generated low-level Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
-type ReleaseOracleRaw struct {
-	Contract *ReleaseOracle // Generic contract binding to access the raw methods on
-}
-
-// ReleaseOracleCallerRaw is an auto generated low-level read-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
-type ReleaseOracleCallerRaw struct {
-	Contract *ReleaseOracleCaller // Generic read-only contract binding to access the raw methods on
-}
-
-// ReleaseOracleTransactorRaw is an auto generated low-level write-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
-type ReleaseOracleTransactorRaw struct {
-	Contract *ReleaseOracleTransactor // Generic write-only contract binding to access the raw methods on
-}
-
-// NewReleaseOracle creates a new instance of ReleaseOracle, bound to a specific deployed contract.
-func NewReleaseOracle(address common.Address, backend bind.ContractBackend) (*ReleaseOracle, error) {
-	contract, err := bindReleaseOracle(address, backend.(bind.ContractCaller), backend.(bind.ContractTransactor))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return &ReleaseOracle{ReleaseOracleCaller: ReleaseOracleCaller{contract: contract}, ReleaseOracleTransactor: ReleaseOracleTransactor{contract: contract}}, nil
-}
-
-// NewReleaseOracleCaller creates a new read-only instance of ReleaseOracle, bound to a specific deployed contract.
-func NewReleaseOracleCaller(address common.Address, caller bind.ContractCaller) (*ReleaseOracleCaller, error) {
-	contract, err := bindReleaseOracle(address, caller, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return &ReleaseOracleCaller{contract: contract}, nil
-}
-
-// NewReleaseOracleTransactor creates a new write-only instance of ReleaseOracle, bound to a specific deployed contract.
-func NewReleaseOracleTransactor(address common.Address, transactor bind.ContractTransactor) (*ReleaseOracleTransactor, error) {
-	contract, err := bindReleaseOracle(address, nil, transactor)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return &ReleaseOracleTransactor{contract: contract}, nil
-}
-
-// bindReleaseOracle binds a generic wrapper to an already deployed contract.
-func bindReleaseOracle(address common.Address, caller bind.ContractCaller, transactor bind.ContractTransactor) (*bind.BoundContract, error) {
-	parsed, err := abi.JSON(strings.NewReader(ReleaseOracleABI))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return bind.NewBoundContract(address, parsed, caller, transactor), nil
-}
-
-// Call invokes the (constant) contract method with params as input values and
-// sets the output to result. The result type might be a single field for simple
-// returns, a slice of interfaces for anonymous returns and a struct for named
-// returns.
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleRaw) Call(opts *bind.CallOpts, result interface{}, method string, params ...interface{}) error {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.ReleaseOracleCaller.contract.Call(opts, result, method, params...)
-}
-
-// Transfer initiates a plain transaction to move funds to the contract, calling
-// its default method if one is available.
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleRaw) Transfer(opts *bind.TransactOpts) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.ReleaseOracleTransactor.contract.Transfer(opts)
-}
-
-// Transact invokes the (paid) contract method with params as input values.
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleRaw) Transact(opts *bind.TransactOpts, method string, params ...interface{}) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.ReleaseOracleTransactor.contract.Transact(opts, method, params...)
-}
-
-// Call invokes the (constant) contract method with params as input values and
-// sets the output to result. The result type might be a single field for simple
-// returns, a slice of interfaces for anonymous returns and a struct for named
-// returns.
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerRaw) Call(opts *bind.CallOpts, result interface{}, method string, params ...interface{}) error {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.contract.Call(opts, result, method, params...)
-}
-
-// Transfer initiates a plain transaction to move funds to the contract, calling
-// its default method if one is available.
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorRaw) Transfer(opts *bind.TransactOpts) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.contract.Transfer(opts)
-}
-
-// Transact invokes the (paid) contract method with params as input values.
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorRaw) Transact(opts *bind.TransactOpts, method string, params ...interface{}) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.contract.Transact(opts, method, params...)
-}
-
-// AuthProposals is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x282fe4e5.
-//
-// Solidity: function AuthProposals() constant returns(address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCaller) AuthProposals(opts *bind.CallOpts) ([]common.Address, error) {
-	var (
-		ret0 = new([]common.Address)
-	)
-	out := ret0
-	err := _ReleaseOracle.contract.Call(opts, out, "AuthProposals")
-	return *ret0, err
-}
-
-// AuthProposals is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x282fe4e5.
-//
-// Solidity: function AuthProposals() constant returns(address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) AuthProposals() ([]common.Address, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.AuthProposals(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
-}
-
-// AuthProposals is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x282fe4e5.
-//
-// Solidity: function AuthProposals() constant returns(address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerSession) AuthProposals() ([]common.Address, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.AuthProposals(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
-}
-
-// AuthVotes is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0xa29226f2.
-//
-// Solidity: function AuthVotes(user address) constant returns(promote address[], demote address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCaller) AuthVotes(opts *bind.CallOpts, user common.Address) (struct {
-	Promote []common.Address
-	Demote  []common.Address
-}, error) {
-	ret := new(struct {
-		Promote []common.Address
-		Demote  []common.Address
-	})
-	out := ret
-	err := _ReleaseOracle.contract.Call(opts, out, "AuthVotes", user)
-	return *ret, err
-}
-
-// AuthVotes is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0xa29226f2.
-//
-// Solidity: function AuthVotes(user address) constant returns(promote address[], demote address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) AuthVotes(user common.Address) (struct {
-	Promote []common.Address
-	Demote  []common.Address
-}, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.AuthVotes(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts, user)
-}
-
-// AuthVotes is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0xa29226f2.
-//
-// Solidity: function AuthVotes(user address) constant returns(promote address[], demote address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerSession) AuthVotes(user common.Address) (struct {
-	Promote []common.Address
-	Demote  []common.Address
-}, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.AuthVotes(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts, user)
-}
-
-// CurrentVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x2b225f29.
-//
-// Solidity: function CurrentVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, time uint256)
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCaller) CurrentVersion(opts *bind.CallOpts) (struct {
-	Major  uint32
-	Minor  uint32
-	Patch  uint32
-	Commit [20]byte
-	Time   *big.Int
-}, error) {
-	ret := new(struct {
-		Major  uint32
-		Minor  uint32
-		Patch  uint32
-		Commit [20]byte
-		Time   *big.Int
-	})
-	out := ret
-	err := _ReleaseOracle.contract.Call(opts, out, "CurrentVersion")
-	return *ret, err
-}
-
-// CurrentVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x2b225f29.
-//
-// Solidity: function CurrentVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, time uint256)
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) CurrentVersion() (struct {
-	Major  uint32
-	Minor  uint32
-	Patch  uint32
-	Commit [20]byte
-	Time   *big.Int
-}, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.CurrentVersion(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
-}
-
-// CurrentVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x2b225f29.
-//
-// Solidity: function CurrentVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, time uint256)
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerSession) CurrentVersion() (struct {
-	Major  uint32
-	Minor  uint32
-	Patch  uint32
-	Commit [20]byte
-	Time   *big.Int
-}, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.CurrentVersion(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
-}
-
-// ProposedVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x4c327071.
-//
-// Solidity: function ProposedVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, pass address[], fail address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCaller) ProposedVersion(opts *bind.CallOpts) (struct {
-	Major  uint32
-	Minor  uint32
-	Patch  uint32
-	Commit [20]byte
-	Pass   []common.Address
-	Fail   []common.Address
-}, error) {
-	ret := new(struct {
-		Major  uint32
-		Minor  uint32
-		Patch  uint32
-		Commit [20]byte
-		Pass   []common.Address
-		Fail   []common.Address
-	})
-	out := ret
-	err := _ReleaseOracle.contract.Call(opts, out, "ProposedVersion")
-	return *ret, err
-}
-
-// ProposedVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x4c327071.
-//
-// Solidity: function ProposedVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, pass address[], fail address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) ProposedVersion() (struct {
-	Major  uint32
-	Minor  uint32
-	Patch  uint32
-	Commit [20]byte
-	Pass   []common.Address
-	Fail   []common.Address
-}, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.ProposedVersion(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
-}
-
-// ProposedVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x4c327071.
-//
-// Solidity: function ProposedVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, pass address[], fail address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerSession) ProposedVersion() (struct {
-	Major  uint32
-	Minor  uint32
-	Patch  uint32
-	Commit [20]byte
-	Pass   []common.Address
-	Fail   []common.Address
-}, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.ProposedVersion(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
-}
-
-// Signers is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0xf04c4758.
-//
-// Solidity: function Signers() constant returns(address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCaller) Signers(opts *bind.CallOpts) ([]common.Address, error) {
-	var (
-		ret0 = new([]common.Address)
-	)
-	out := ret0
-	err := _ReleaseOracle.contract.Call(opts, out, "Signers")
-	return *ret0, err
-}
-
-// Signers is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0xf04c4758.
-//
-// Solidity: function Signers() constant returns(address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) Signers() ([]common.Address, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Signers(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
-}
-
-// Signers is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0xf04c4758.
-//
-// Solidity: function Signers() constant returns(address[])
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerSession) Signers() ([]common.Address, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Signers(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
-}
-
-// Demote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x80bbbd4a.
-//
-// Solidity: function Demote(user address) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactor) Demote(opts *bind.TransactOpts, user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.contract.Transact(opts, "Demote", user)
-}
-
-// Demote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x80bbbd4a.
-//
-// Solidity: function Demote(user address) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) Demote(user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Demote(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, user)
-}
-
-// Demote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x80bbbd4a.
-//
-// Solidity: function Demote(user address) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorSession) Demote(user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Demote(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, user)
-}
-
-// Nuke is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x0443b1ad.
-//
-// Solidity: function Nuke() returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactor) Nuke(opts *bind.TransactOpts) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.contract.Transact(opts, "Nuke")
-}
-
-// Nuke is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x0443b1ad.
-//
-// Solidity: function Nuke() returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) Nuke() (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Nuke(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts)
-}
-
-// Nuke is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x0443b1ad.
-//
-// Solidity: function Nuke() returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorSession) Nuke() (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Nuke(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts)
-}
-
-// Promote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x6195db9c.
-//
-// Solidity: function Promote(user address) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactor) Promote(opts *bind.TransactOpts, user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.contract.Transact(opts, "Promote", user)
-}
-
-// Promote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x6195db9c.
-//
-// Solidity: function Promote(user address) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) Promote(user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Promote(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, user)
-}
-
-// Promote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x6195db9c.
-//
-// Solidity: function Promote(user address) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorSession) Promote(user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Promote(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, user)
-}
-
-// Release is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x0d618178.
-//
-// Solidity: function Release(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactor) Release(opts *bind.TransactOpts, major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit [20]byte) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.contract.Transact(opts, "Release", major, minor, patch, commit)
-}
-
-// Release is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x0d618178.
-//
-// Solidity: function Release(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) Release(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit [20]byte) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Release(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, major, minor, patch, commit)
-}
-
-// Release is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x0d618178.
-//
-// Solidity: function Release(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorSession) Release(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit [20]byte) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Release(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, major, minor, patch, commit)
-}
-
-// UpdateRelease is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x645dce72.
-//
-// Solidity: function updateRelease(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, release bool) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactor) UpdateRelease(opts *bind.TransactOpts, major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit [20]byte, release bool) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.contract.Transact(opts, "updateRelease", major, minor, patch, commit, release)
-}
-
-// UpdateRelease is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x645dce72.
-//
-// Solidity: function updateRelease(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, release bool) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) UpdateRelease(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit [20]byte, release bool) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.UpdateRelease(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, major, minor, patch, commit, release)
-}
-
-// UpdateRelease is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x645dce72.
-//
-// Solidity: function updateRelease(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, release bool) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorSession) UpdateRelease(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit [20]byte, release bool) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.UpdateRelease(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, major, minor, patch, commit, release)
-}
-
-// UpdateSigner is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xf460590b.
-//
-// Solidity: function updateSigner(user address, authorize bool) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactor) UpdateSigner(opts *bind.TransactOpts, user common.Address, authorize bool) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.contract.Transact(opts, "updateSigner", user, authorize)
-}
-
-// UpdateSigner is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xf460590b.
-//
-// Solidity: function updateSigner(user address, authorize bool) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) UpdateSigner(user common.Address, authorize bool) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.UpdateSigner(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, user, authorize)
-}
-
-// UpdateSigner is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xf460590b.
-//
-// Solidity: function updateSigner(user address, authorize bool) returns()
-func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorSession) UpdateSigner(user common.Address, authorize bool) (*types.Transaction, error) {
-	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.UpdateSigner(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, user, authorize)
-}
diff --git a/eth/api.go b/eth/api.go
index 2c84cf471e..bd81799626 100644
--- a/eth/api.go
+++ b/eth/api.go
@@ -52,14 +52,14 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/net/context"
 )
 
-// ErrNoCode is returned by call and transact operations for which the requested
+// errNoCode is returned by call and transact operations for which the requested
 // recipient contract to operate on does not exist in the state db or does not
 // have any code associated with it (i.e. suicided).
 //
 // Please note, this error string is part of the RPC API and is expected by the
 // native contract bindings to signal this particular error. Do not change this
 // as it will break all dependent code!
-var ErrNoCode = errors.New("no contract code at given address")
+var errNoCode = errors.New("no contract code at given address")
 
 const defaultGas = uint64(90000)
 
@@ -107,8 +107,11 @@ type PublicEthereumAPI struct {
 }
 
 // NewPublicEthereumAPI creates a new Ethereum protocol API.
-func NewPublicEthereumAPI(e *Ethereum, gpo *GasPriceOracle) *PublicEthereumAPI {
-	return &PublicEthereumAPI{e, gpo}
+func NewPublicEthereumAPI(e *Ethereum) *PublicEthereumAPI {
+	return &PublicEthereumAPI{
+		e:   e,
+		gpo: e.gpo,
+	}
 }
 
 // GasPrice returns a suggestion for a gas price.
@@ -717,7 +720,7 @@ func (s *PublicBlockChainAPI) doCall(args CallArgs, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) (st
 	// If there's no code to interact with, respond with an appropriate error
 	if args.To != nil {
 		if code := stateDb.GetCode(*args.To); len(code) == 0 {
-			return "0x", nil, ErrNoCode
+			return "0x", nil, errNoCode
 		}
 	}
 	// Retrieve the account state object to interact with
@@ -914,18 +917,17 @@ type PublicTransactionPoolAPI struct {
 }
 
 // NewPublicTransactionPoolAPI creates a new RPC service with methods specific for the transaction pool.
-func NewPublicTransactionPoolAPI(e *Ethereum, gpo *GasPriceOracle) *PublicTransactionPoolAPI {
+func NewPublicTransactionPoolAPI(e *Ethereum) *PublicTransactionPoolAPI {
 	api := &PublicTransactionPoolAPI{
-		eventMux:      e.EventMux(),
-		gpo:           gpo,
-		chainDb:       e.ChainDb(),
-		bc:            e.BlockChain(),
-		am:            e.AccountManager(),
-		txPool:        e.TxPool(),
-		miner:         e.Miner(),
+		eventMux:      e.eventMux,
+		gpo:           e.gpo,
+		chainDb:       e.chainDb,
+		bc:            e.blockchain,
+		am:            e.accountManager,
+		txPool:        e.txPool,
+		miner:         e.miner,
 		pendingTxSubs: make(map[string]rpc.Subscription),
 	}
-
 	go api.subscriptionLoop()
 
 	return api
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index 76cf8783b9..9722e96257 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ type Ethereum struct {
 	protocolManager *ProtocolManager
 	SolcPath        string
 	solc            *compiler.Solidity
+	gpo             *GasPriceOracle
 
 	GpoMinGasPrice          *big.Int
 	GpoMaxGasPrice          *big.Int
@@ -260,6 +261,8 @@ func New(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 		}
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	eth.gpo = NewGasPriceOracle(eth)
+
 	newPool := core.NewTxPool(eth.chainConfig, eth.EventMux(), eth.blockchain.State, eth.blockchain.GasLimit)
 	eth.txPool = newPool
 
@@ -276,34 +279,31 @@ func New(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 // APIs returns the collection of RPC services the ethereum package offers.
 // NOTE, some of these services probably need to be moved to somewhere else.
 func (s *Ethereum) APIs() []rpc.API {
-	// share gas price oracle in API's
-	gpo := NewGasPriceOracle(s)
-
 	return []rpc.API{
 		{
 			Namespace: "eth",
 			Version:   "1.0",
-			Service:   NewPublicEthereumAPI(s, gpo),
+			Service:   NewPublicEthereumAPI(s),
 			Public:    true,
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "eth",
 			Version:   "1.0",
-			Service:   NewPublicAccountAPI(s.AccountManager()),
+			Service:   NewPublicAccountAPI(s.accountManager),
 			Public:    true,
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "personal",
 			Version:   "1.0",
-			Service:   NewPrivateAccountAPI(s.AccountManager()),
+			Service:   NewPrivateAccountAPI(s.accountManager),
 			Public:    false,
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "eth",
 			Version:   "1.0",
-			Service:   NewPublicBlockChainAPI(s.chainConfig, s.BlockChain(), s.Miner(), s.ChainDb(), gpo, s.EventMux(), s.AccountManager()),
+			Service:   NewPublicBlockChainAPI(s.chainConfig, s.blockchain, s.miner, s.chainDb, s.gpo, s.eventMux, s.accountManager),
 			Public:    true,
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "eth",
 			Version:   "1.0",
-			Service:   NewPublicTransactionPoolAPI(s, gpo),
+			Service:   NewPublicTransactionPoolAPI(s),
 			Public:    true,
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "eth",
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ func (s *Ethereum) APIs() []rpc.API {
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "eth",
 			Version:   "1.0",
-			Service:   downloader.NewPublicDownloaderAPI(s.Downloader(), s.EventMux()),
+			Service:   downloader.NewPublicDownloaderAPI(s.protocolManager.downloader, s.eventMux),
 			Public:    true,
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "miner",
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ func (s *Ethereum) APIs() []rpc.API {
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "eth",
 			Version:   "1.0",
-			Service:   filters.NewPublicFilterAPI(s.ChainDb(), s.EventMux()),
+			Service:   filters.NewPublicFilterAPI(s.chainDb, s.eventMux),
 			Public:    true,
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "admin",
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ func (s *Ethereum) APIs() []rpc.API {
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "admin",
 			Version:   "1.0",
-			Service:   ethreg.NewPrivateRegistarAPI(s.chainConfig, s.BlockChain(), s.ChainDb(), s.TxPool(), s.AccountManager()),
+			Service:   ethreg.NewPrivateRegistarAPI(s.chainConfig, s.blockchain, s.chainDb, s.txPool, s.accountManager),
 		},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/eth/bind.go b/eth/bind.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3a3eca0623
--- /dev/null
+++ b/eth/bind.go
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+// Copyright 2016 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package eth
+
+import (
+	"math/big"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts/abi/bind"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
+)
+
+// ContractBackend implements bind.ContractBackend with direct calls to Ethereum
+// internals to support operating on contracts within subprotocols like eth and
+// swarm.
+//
+// Internally this backend uses the already exposed API endpoints of the Ethereum
+// object. These should be rewritten to internal Go method calls when the Go API
+// is refactored to support a clean library use.
+type ContractBackend struct {
+	eapi  *PublicEthereumAPI        // Wrapper around the Ethereum object to access metadata
+	bcapi *PublicBlockChainAPI      // Wrapper around the blockchain to access chain data
+	txapi *PublicTransactionPoolAPI // Wrapper around the transaction pool to access transaction data
+}
+
+// NewContractBackend creates a new native contract backend using an existing
+// Etheruem object.
+func NewContractBackend(eth *Ethereum) *ContractBackend {
+	return &ContractBackend{
+		eapi:  NewPublicEthereumAPI(eth),
+		bcapi: NewPublicBlockChainAPI(eth.chainConfig, eth.blockchain, eth.miner, eth.chainDb, eth.gpo, eth.eventMux, eth.accountManager),
+		txapi: NewPublicTransactionPoolAPI(eth),
+	}
+}
+
+// ContractCall implements bind.ContractCaller executing an Ethereum contract
+// call with the specified data as the input. The pending flag requests execution
+// against the pending block, not the stable head of the chain.
+func (b *ContractBackend) ContractCall(contract common.Address, data []byte, pending bool) ([]byte, error) {
+	// Convert the input args to the API spec
+	args := CallArgs{
+		To:   &contract,
+		Data: common.ToHex(data),
+	}
+	block := rpc.LatestBlockNumber
+	if pending {
+		block = rpc.PendingBlockNumber
+	}
+	// Execute the call and convert the output back to Go types
+	out, err := b.bcapi.Call(args, block)
+	if err == errNoCode {
+		err = bind.ErrNoCode
+	}
+	return common.FromHex(out), err
+}
+
+// PendingAccountNonce implements bind.ContractTransactor retrieving the current
+// pending nonce associated with an account.
+func (b *ContractBackend) PendingAccountNonce(account common.Address) (uint64, error) {
+	out, err := b.txapi.GetTransactionCount(account, rpc.PendingBlockNumber)
+	return out.Uint64(), err
+}
+
+// SuggestGasPrice implements bind.ContractTransactor retrieving the currently
+// suggested gas price to allow a timely execution of a transaction.
+func (b *ContractBackend) SuggestGasPrice() (*big.Int, error) {
+	return b.eapi.GasPrice(), nil
+}
+
+// EstimateGasLimit implements bind.ContractTransactor triing to estimate the gas
+// needed to execute a specific transaction based on the current pending state of
+// the backend blockchain. There is no guarantee that this is the true gas limit
+// requirement as other transactions may be added or removed by miners, but it
+// should provide a basis for setting a reasonable default.
+func (b *ContractBackend) EstimateGasLimit(sender common.Address, contract *common.Address, value *big.Int, data []byte) (*big.Int, error) {
+	out, err := b.bcapi.EstimateGas(CallArgs{
+		From:  sender,
+		To:    contract,
+		Value: *rpc.NewHexNumber(value),
+		Data:  common.ToHex(data),
+	})
+	if err == errNoCode {
+		err = bind.ErrNoCode
+	}
+	return out.BigInt(), err
+}
+
+// SendTransaction implements bind.ContractTransactor injects the transaction
+// into the pending pool for execution.
+func (b *ContractBackend) SendTransaction(tx *types.Transaction) error {
+	raw, _ := rlp.EncodeToBytes(tx)
+	_, err := b.txapi.SendRawTransaction(common.ToHex(raw))
+	return err
+}
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index 0864253f45..06a1b7aed7 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ func (n *Node) startIPC(apis []rpc.API) error {
 				glog.V(logger.Error).Infof("IPC accept failed: %v", err)
 				continue
 			}
-			go handler.ServeCodec(rpc.NewJSONCodec(conn), rpc.OptionMethodInvocation | rpc.OptionSubscriptions)
+			go handler.ServeCodec(rpc.NewJSONCodec(conn), rpc.OptionMethodInvocation|rpc.OptionSubscriptions)
 		}
 	}()
 	// All listeners booted successfully
@@ -530,7 +530,6 @@ func (n *Node) Server() *p2p.Server {
 }
 
 // Service retrieves a currently running service registered of a specific type.
-// NOTE: must be called with double pointer to service
 func (n *Node) Service(service interface{}) error {
 	n.lock.RLock()
 	defer n.lock.RUnlock()
diff --git a/node/service.go b/node/service.go
index 77b2ddc928..4d9a6e42cf 100644
--- a/node/service.go
+++ b/node/service.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ type ServiceConstructor func(ctx *ServiceContext) (Service, error)
 //  - Restart logic is not required as the node will create a fresh instance
 //    every time a service is started.
 type Service interface {
-	// Protocol retrieves the P2P protocols the service wishes to start.
+	// Protocols retrieves the P2P protocols the service wishes to start.
 	Protocols() []p2p.Protocol
 
 	// APIs retrieves the list of RPC descriptors the service provides
diff --git a/release/contract.go b/release/contract.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5daf7e4a40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release/contract.go
@@ -0,0 +1,432 @@
+// This file is an automatically generated Go binding. Do not modify as any
+// change will likely be lost upon the next re-generation!
+
+package release
+
+import (
+	"math/big"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts/abi"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts/abi/bind"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+)
+
+// ReleaseOracleABI is the input ABI used to generate the binding from.
+const ReleaseOracleABI = `[{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"proposedVersion","outputs":[{"name":"major","type":"uint32"},{"name":"minor","type":"uint32"},{"name":"patch","type":"uint32"},{"name":"commit","type":"bytes20"},{"name":"pass","type":"address[]"},{"name":"fail","type":"address[]"}],"type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"signers","outputs":[{"name":"","type":"address[]"}],"type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"user","type":"address"}],"name":"demote","outputs":[],"type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[{"name":"user","type":"address"}],"name":"authVotes","outputs":[{"name":"promote","type":"address[]"},{"name":"demote","type":"address[]"}],"type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"currentVersion","outputs":[{"name":"major","type":"uint32"},{"name":"minor","type":"uint32"},{"name":"patch","type":"uint32"},{"name":"commit","type":"bytes20"},{"name":"time","type":"uint256"}],"type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[],"name":"nuke","outputs":[],"type":"function"},{"constant":true,"inputs":[],"name":"authProposals","outputs":[{"name":"","type":"address[]"}],"type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"user","type":"address"}],"name":"promote","outputs":[],"type":"function"},{"constant":false,"inputs":[{"name":"major","type":"uint32"},{"name":"minor","type":"uint32"},{"name":"patch","type":"uint32"},{"name":"commit","type":"bytes20"}],"name":"release","outputs":[],"type":"function"},{"inputs":[{"name":"signers","type":"address[]"}],"type":"constructor"}]`
+
+// ReleaseOracleBin is the compiled bytecode used for deploying new contracts.
+const ReleaseOracleBin = `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`
+
+// DeployReleaseOracle deploys a new Ethereum contract, binding an instance of ReleaseOracle to it.
+func DeployReleaseOracle(auth *bind.TransactOpts, backend bind.ContractBackend, signers []common.Address) (common.Address, *types.Transaction, *ReleaseOracle, error) {
+	parsed, err := abi.JSON(strings.NewReader(ReleaseOracleABI))
+	if err != nil {
+		return common.Address{}, nil, nil, err
+	}
+	address, tx, contract, err := bind.DeployContract(auth, parsed, common.FromHex(ReleaseOracleBin), backend, signers)
+	if err != nil {
+		return common.Address{}, nil, nil, err
+	}
+	return address, tx, &ReleaseOracle{ReleaseOracleCaller: ReleaseOracleCaller{contract: contract}, ReleaseOracleTransactor: ReleaseOracleTransactor{contract: contract}}, nil
+}
+
+// ReleaseOracle is an auto generated Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
+type ReleaseOracle struct {
+	ReleaseOracleCaller     // Read-only binding to the contract
+	ReleaseOracleTransactor // Write-only binding to the contract
+}
+
+// ReleaseOracleCaller is an auto generated read-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
+type ReleaseOracleCaller struct {
+	contract *bind.BoundContract // Generic contract wrapper for the low level calls
+}
+
+// ReleaseOracleTransactor is an auto generated write-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
+type ReleaseOracleTransactor struct {
+	contract *bind.BoundContract // Generic contract wrapper for the low level calls
+}
+
+// ReleaseOracleSession is an auto generated Go binding around an Ethereum contract,
+// with pre-set call and transact options.
+type ReleaseOracleSession struct {
+	Contract     *ReleaseOracle    // Generic contract binding to set the session for
+	CallOpts     bind.CallOpts     // Call options to use throughout this session
+	TransactOpts bind.TransactOpts // Transaction auth options to use throughout this session
+}
+
+// ReleaseOracleCallerSession is an auto generated read-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract,
+// with pre-set call options.
+type ReleaseOracleCallerSession struct {
+	Contract *ReleaseOracleCaller // Generic contract caller binding to set the session for
+	CallOpts bind.CallOpts        // Call options to use throughout this session
+}
+
+// ReleaseOracleTransactorSession is an auto generated write-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract,
+// with pre-set transact options.
+type ReleaseOracleTransactorSession struct {
+	Contract     *ReleaseOracleTransactor // Generic contract transactor binding to set the session for
+	TransactOpts bind.TransactOpts        // Transaction auth options to use throughout this session
+}
+
+// ReleaseOracleRaw is an auto generated low-level Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
+type ReleaseOracleRaw struct {
+	Contract *ReleaseOracle // Generic contract binding to access the raw methods on
+}
+
+// ReleaseOracleCallerRaw is an auto generated low-level read-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
+type ReleaseOracleCallerRaw struct {
+	Contract *ReleaseOracleCaller // Generic read-only contract binding to access the raw methods on
+}
+
+// ReleaseOracleTransactorRaw is an auto generated low-level write-only Go binding around an Ethereum contract.
+type ReleaseOracleTransactorRaw struct {
+	Contract *ReleaseOracleTransactor // Generic write-only contract binding to access the raw methods on
+}
+
+// NewReleaseOracle creates a new instance of ReleaseOracle, bound to a specific deployed contract.
+func NewReleaseOracle(address common.Address, backend bind.ContractBackend) (*ReleaseOracle, error) {
+	contract, err := bindReleaseOracle(address, backend.(bind.ContractCaller), backend.(bind.ContractTransactor))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &ReleaseOracle{ReleaseOracleCaller: ReleaseOracleCaller{contract: contract}, ReleaseOracleTransactor: ReleaseOracleTransactor{contract: contract}}, nil
+}
+
+// NewReleaseOracleCaller creates a new read-only instance of ReleaseOracle, bound to a specific deployed contract.
+func NewReleaseOracleCaller(address common.Address, caller bind.ContractCaller) (*ReleaseOracleCaller, error) {
+	contract, err := bindReleaseOracle(address, caller, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &ReleaseOracleCaller{contract: contract}, nil
+}
+
+// NewReleaseOracleTransactor creates a new write-only instance of ReleaseOracle, bound to a specific deployed contract.
+func NewReleaseOracleTransactor(address common.Address, transactor bind.ContractTransactor) (*ReleaseOracleTransactor, error) {
+	contract, err := bindReleaseOracle(address, nil, transactor)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &ReleaseOracleTransactor{contract: contract}, nil
+}
+
+// bindReleaseOracle binds a generic wrapper to an already deployed contract.
+func bindReleaseOracle(address common.Address, caller bind.ContractCaller, transactor bind.ContractTransactor) (*bind.BoundContract, error) {
+	parsed, err := abi.JSON(strings.NewReader(ReleaseOracleABI))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return bind.NewBoundContract(address, parsed, caller, transactor), nil
+}
+
+// Call invokes the (constant) contract method with params as input values and
+// sets the output to result. The result type might be a single field for simple
+// returns, a slice of interfaces for anonymous returns and a struct for named
+// returns.
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleRaw) Call(opts *bind.CallOpts, result interface{}, method string, params ...interface{}) error {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.ReleaseOracleCaller.contract.Call(opts, result, method, params...)
+}
+
+// Transfer initiates a plain transaction to move funds to the contract, calling
+// its default method if one is available.
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleRaw) Transfer(opts *bind.TransactOpts) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.ReleaseOracleTransactor.contract.Transfer(opts)
+}
+
+// Transact invokes the (paid) contract method with params as input values.
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleRaw) Transact(opts *bind.TransactOpts, method string, params ...interface{}) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.ReleaseOracleTransactor.contract.Transact(opts, method, params...)
+}
+
+// Call invokes the (constant) contract method with params as input values and
+// sets the output to result. The result type might be a single field for simple
+// returns, a slice of interfaces for anonymous returns and a struct for named
+// returns.
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerRaw) Call(opts *bind.CallOpts, result interface{}, method string, params ...interface{}) error {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.contract.Call(opts, result, method, params...)
+}
+
+// Transfer initiates a plain transaction to move funds to the contract, calling
+// its default method if one is available.
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorRaw) Transfer(opts *bind.TransactOpts) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.contract.Transfer(opts)
+}
+
+// Transact invokes the (paid) contract method with params as input values.
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorRaw) Transact(opts *bind.TransactOpts, method string, params ...interface{}) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.contract.Transact(opts, method, params...)
+}
+
+// AuthProposals is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0xbf8ecf9c.
+//
+// Solidity: function authProposals() constant returns(address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCaller) AuthProposals(opts *bind.CallOpts) ([]common.Address, error) {
+	var (
+		ret0 = new([]common.Address)
+	)
+	out := ret0
+	err := _ReleaseOracle.contract.Call(opts, out, "authProposals")
+	return *ret0, err
+}
+
+// AuthProposals is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0xbf8ecf9c.
+//
+// Solidity: function authProposals() constant returns(address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) AuthProposals() ([]common.Address, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.AuthProposals(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
+}
+
+// AuthProposals is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0xbf8ecf9c.
+//
+// Solidity: function authProposals() constant returns(address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerSession) AuthProposals() ([]common.Address, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.AuthProposals(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
+}
+
+// AuthVotes is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x64ed31fe.
+//
+// Solidity: function authVotes(user address) constant returns(promote address[], demote address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCaller) AuthVotes(opts *bind.CallOpts, user common.Address) (struct {
+	Promote []common.Address
+	Demote  []common.Address
+}, error) {
+	ret := new(struct {
+		Promote []common.Address
+		Demote  []common.Address
+	})
+	out := ret
+	err := _ReleaseOracle.contract.Call(opts, out, "authVotes", user)
+	return *ret, err
+}
+
+// AuthVotes is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x64ed31fe.
+//
+// Solidity: function authVotes(user address) constant returns(promote address[], demote address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) AuthVotes(user common.Address) (struct {
+	Promote []common.Address
+	Demote  []common.Address
+}, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.AuthVotes(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts, user)
+}
+
+// AuthVotes is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x64ed31fe.
+//
+// Solidity: function authVotes(user address) constant returns(promote address[], demote address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerSession) AuthVotes(user common.Address) (struct {
+	Promote []common.Address
+	Demote  []common.Address
+}, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.AuthVotes(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts, user)
+}
+
+// CurrentVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x9d888e86.
+//
+// Solidity: function currentVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, time uint256)
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCaller) CurrentVersion(opts *bind.CallOpts) (struct {
+	Major  uint32
+	Minor  uint32
+	Patch  uint32
+	Commit [20]byte
+	Time   *big.Int
+}, error) {
+	ret := new(struct {
+		Major  uint32
+		Minor  uint32
+		Patch  uint32
+		Commit [20]byte
+		Time   *big.Int
+	})
+	out := ret
+	err := _ReleaseOracle.contract.Call(opts, out, "currentVersion")
+	return *ret, err
+}
+
+// CurrentVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x9d888e86.
+//
+// Solidity: function currentVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, time uint256)
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) CurrentVersion() (struct {
+	Major  uint32
+	Minor  uint32
+	Patch  uint32
+	Commit [20]byte
+	Time   *big.Int
+}, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.CurrentVersion(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
+}
+
+// CurrentVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x9d888e86.
+//
+// Solidity: function currentVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, time uint256)
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerSession) CurrentVersion() (struct {
+	Major  uint32
+	Minor  uint32
+	Patch  uint32
+	Commit [20]byte
+	Time   *big.Int
+}, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.CurrentVersion(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
+}
+
+// ProposedVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x26db7648.
+//
+// Solidity: function proposedVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, pass address[], fail address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCaller) ProposedVersion(opts *bind.CallOpts) (struct {
+	Major  uint32
+	Minor  uint32
+	Patch  uint32
+	Commit [20]byte
+	Pass   []common.Address
+	Fail   []common.Address
+}, error) {
+	ret := new(struct {
+		Major  uint32
+		Minor  uint32
+		Patch  uint32
+		Commit [20]byte
+		Pass   []common.Address
+		Fail   []common.Address
+	})
+	out := ret
+	err := _ReleaseOracle.contract.Call(opts, out, "proposedVersion")
+	return *ret, err
+}
+
+// ProposedVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x26db7648.
+//
+// Solidity: function proposedVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, pass address[], fail address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) ProposedVersion() (struct {
+	Major  uint32
+	Minor  uint32
+	Patch  uint32
+	Commit [20]byte
+	Pass   []common.Address
+	Fail   []common.Address
+}, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.ProposedVersion(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
+}
+
+// ProposedVersion is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x26db7648.
+//
+// Solidity: function proposedVersion() constant returns(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20, pass address[], fail address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerSession) ProposedVersion() (struct {
+	Major  uint32
+	Minor  uint32
+	Patch  uint32
+	Commit [20]byte
+	Pass   []common.Address
+	Fail   []common.Address
+}, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.ProposedVersion(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
+}
+
+// Signers is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x46f0975a.
+//
+// Solidity: function signers() constant returns(address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCaller) Signers(opts *bind.CallOpts) ([]common.Address, error) {
+	var (
+		ret0 = new([]common.Address)
+	)
+	out := ret0
+	err := _ReleaseOracle.contract.Call(opts, out, "signers")
+	return *ret0, err
+}
+
+// Signers is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x46f0975a.
+//
+// Solidity: function signers() constant returns(address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) Signers() ([]common.Address, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Signers(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
+}
+
+// Signers is a free data retrieval call binding the contract method 0x46f0975a.
+//
+// Solidity: function signers() constant returns(address[])
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleCallerSession) Signers() ([]common.Address, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Signers(&_ReleaseOracle.CallOpts)
+}
+
+// Demote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x5c3d005d.
+//
+// Solidity: function demote(user address) returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactor) Demote(opts *bind.TransactOpts, user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.contract.Transact(opts, "demote", user)
+}
+
+// Demote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x5c3d005d.
+//
+// Solidity: function demote(user address) returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) Demote(user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Demote(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, user)
+}
+
+// Demote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0x5c3d005d.
+//
+// Solidity: function demote(user address) returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorSession) Demote(user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Demote(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, user)
+}
+
+// Nuke is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xbc8fbbf8.
+//
+// Solidity: function nuke() returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactor) Nuke(opts *bind.TransactOpts) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.contract.Transact(opts, "nuke")
+}
+
+// Nuke is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xbc8fbbf8.
+//
+// Solidity: function nuke() returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) Nuke() (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Nuke(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts)
+}
+
+// Nuke is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xbc8fbbf8.
+//
+// Solidity: function nuke() returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorSession) Nuke() (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Nuke(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts)
+}
+
+// Promote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xd0e0813a.
+//
+// Solidity: function promote(user address) returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactor) Promote(opts *bind.TransactOpts, user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.contract.Transact(opts, "promote", user)
+}
+
+// Promote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xd0e0813a.
+//
+// Solidity: function promote(user address) returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) Promote(user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Promote(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, user)
+}
+
+// Promote is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xd0e0813a.
+//
+// Solidity: function promote(user address) returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorSession) Promote(user common.Address) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Promote(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, user)
+}
+
+// Release is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xd67cbec9.
+//
+// Solidity: function release(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20) returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactor) Release(opts *bind.TransactOpts, major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit [20]byte) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.contract.Transact(opts, "release", major, minor, patch, commit)
+}
+
+// Release is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xd67cbec9.
+//
+// Solidity: function release(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20) returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleSession) Release(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit [20]byte) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Release(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, major, minor, patch, commit)
+}
+
+// Release is a paid mutator transaction binding the contract method 0xd67cbec9.
+//
+// Solidity: function release(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit bytes20) returns()
+func (_ReleaseOracle *ReleaseOracleTransactorSession) Release(major uint32, minor uint32, patch uint32, commit [20]byte) (*types.Transaction, error) {
+	return _ReleaseOracle.Contract.Release(&_ReleaseOracle.TransactOpts, major, minor, patch, commit)
+}
diff --git a/contracts/release/contract.sol b/release/contract.sol
similarity index 73%
rename from contracts/release/contract.sol
rename to release/contract.sol
index 7ec0fa8e7c..fedf646c07 100644
--- a/contracts/release/contract.sol
+++ b/release/contract.sol
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 // check for new releases automatically without the need to consult a central
 // repository.
 //
-// The contract takes a vote based approach on both assigning authorized signers
+// The contract takes a vote based approach on both assigning authorised signers
 // as well as signing off on new Geth releases.
 //
 // Note, when a signer is demoted, the currently pending release is auto-nuked.
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ contract ReleaseOracle {
   }
 
   // Oracle authorization details
-  mapping(address => bool) authorized; // Set of accounts allowed to vote on updating the contract
-  address[]                signers;    // List of addresses currently accepted as signers
+  mapping(address => bool) authorised; // Set of accounts allowed to vote on updating the contract
+  address[]                voters;     // List of addresses currently accepted as signers
 
   // Various proposals being voted on
   mapping(address => Votes) authProps; // Currently running user authorization proposals
@@ -57,38 +57,47 @@ contract ReleaseOracle {
 
   // isSigner is a modifier to authorize contract transactions.
   modifier isSigner() {
-    if (authorized[msg.sender]) {
+    if (authorised[msg.sender]) {
       _
     }
   }
 
-  // Constructor to assign the creator as the sole valid signer.
-  function ReleaseOracle() {
-    authorized[msg.sender] = true;
-    signers.push(msg.sender);
+  // Constructor to assign the initial set of signers.
+  function ReleaseOracle(address[] signers) {
+    // If no signers were specified, assign the creator as the sole signer
+    if (signers.length == 0) {
+      authorised[msg.sender] = true;
+      voters.push(msg.sender);
+      return;
+    }
+    // Otherwise assign the individual signers one by one
+    for (uint i = 0; i < signers.length; i++) {
+      authorised[signers[i]] = true;
+      voters.push(signers[i]);
+    }
   }
 
-  // Signers is an accessor method to retrieve all te signers (public accessor
+  // signers is an accessor method to retrieve all te signers (public accessor
   // generates an indexed one, not a retreive-all version).
-  function Signers() constant returns(address[]) {
-    return signers;
+  function signers() constant returns(address[]) {
+    return voters;
   }
 
-  // AuthProposals retrieves the list of addresses that authorization proposals
+  // authProposals retrieves the list of addresses that authorization proposals
   // are currently being voted on.
-  function AuthProposals() constant returns(address[]) {
+  function authProposals() constant returns(address[]) {
     return authPend;
   }
 
-  // AuthVotes retrieves the current authorization votes for a particular user
+  // authVotes retrieves the current authorization votes for a particular user
   // to promote him into the list of signers, or demote him from there.
-  function AuthVotes(address user) constant returns(address[] promote, address[] demote) {
+  function authVotes(address user) constant returns(address[] promote, address[] demote) {
     return (authProps[user].pass, authProps[user].fail);
   }
 
-  // CurrentVersion retrieves the semantic version, commit hash and release time
+  // currentVersion retrieves the semantic version, commit hash and release time
   // of the currently votec active release.
-  function CurrentVersion() constant returns (uint32 major, uint32 minor, uint32 patch, bytes20 commit, uint time) {
+  function currentVersion() constant returns (uint32 major, uint32 minor, uint32 patch, bytes20 commit, uint time) {
     if (releases.length == 0) {
       return (0, 0, 0, 0, 0);
     }
@@ -97,38 +106,38 @@ contract ReleaseOracle {
     return (release.major, release.minor, release.patch, release.commit, release.time);
   }
 
-  // ProposedVersion retrieves the semantic version, commit hash and the current
+  // proposedVersion retrieves the semantic version, commit hash and the current
   // votes for the next proposed release.
-  function ProposedVersion() constant returns (uint32 major, uint32 minor, uint32 patch, bytes20 commit, address[] pass, address[] fail) {
+  function proposedVersion() constant returns (uint32 major, uint32 minor, uint32 patch, bytes20 commit, address[] pass, address[] fail) {
     return (verProp.major, verProp.minor, verProp.patch, verProp.commit, verProp.votes.pass, verProp.votes.fail);
   }
 
-  // Promote pitches in on a voting campaign to promote a new user to a signer
+  // promote pitches in on a voting campaign to promote a new user to a signer
   // position.
-  function Promote(address user) {
+  function promote(address user) {
     updateSigner(user, true);
   }
 
-  // Demote pitches in on a voting campaign to demote an authorized user from
+  // demote pitches in on a voting campaign to demote an authorised user from
   // its signer position.
-  function Demote(address user) {
+  function demote(address user) {
     updateSigner(user, false);
   }
 
-  // Release votes for a particular version to be included as the next release.
-  function Release(uint32 major, uint32 minor, uint32 patch, bytes20 commit) {
+  // release votes for a particular version to be included as the next release.
+  function release(uint32 major, uint32 minor, uint32 patch, bytes20 commit) {
     updateRelease(major, minor, patch, commit, true);
   }
 
-  // Nuke votes for the currently proposed version to not be included as the next
+  // nuke votes for the currently proposed version to not be included as the next
   // release. Nuking doesn't require a specific version number for simplicity.
-  function Nuke() {
+  function nuke() {
     updateRelease(0, 0, 0, 0, false);
   }
 
   // updateSigner marks a vote for changing the status of an Ethereum user, either
-  // for or against the user being an authorized signer.
-  function updateSigner(address user, bool authorize) isSigner {
+  // for or against the user being an authorised signer.
+  function updateSigner(address user, bool authorize) internal isSigner {
     // Gather the current votes and ensure we don't double vote
     Votes votes = authProps[user];
     for (uint i = 0; i < votes.pass.length; i++) {
@@ -148,26 +157,26 @@ contract ReleaseOracle {
     // Cast the vote and return if the proposal cannot be resolved yet
     if (authorize) {
       votes.pass.push(msg.sender);
-      if (votes.pass.length <= signers.length / 2) {
+      if (votes.pass.length <= voters.length / 2) {
         return;
       }
     } else {
       votes.fail.push(msg.sender);
-      if (votes.fail.length <= signers.length / 2) {
+      if (votes.fail.length <= voters.length / 2) {
         return;
       }
     }
     // Proposal resolved in our favor, execute whatever we voted on
-    if (authorize && !authorized[user]) {
-      authorized[user] = true;
-      signers.push(user);
-    } else if (!authorize && authorized[user]) {
-      authorized[user] = false;
+    if (authorize && !authorised[user]) {
+      authorised[user] = true;
+      voters.push(user);
+    } else if (!authorize && authorised[user]) {
+      authorised[user] = false;
 
-      for (i = 0; i < signers.length; i++) {
-        if (signers[i] == user) {
-          signers[i] = signers[signers.length - 1];
-          signers.length--;
+      for (i = 0; i < voters.length; i++) {
+        if (voters[i] == user) {
+          voters[i] = voters[voters.length - 1];
+          voters.length--;
 
           delete verProp; // Nuke any version proposal (no suprise releases!)
           break;
@@ -188,7 +197,7 @@ contract ReleaseOracle {
 
   // updateRelease votes for a particular version to be included as the next release,
   // or for the currently proposed release to be nuked out.
-  function updateRelease(uint32 major, uint32 minor, uint32 patch, bytes20 commit, bool release) isSigner {
+  function updateRelease(uint32 major, uint32 minor, uint32 patch, bytes20 commit, bool release) internal isSigner {
     // Skip nuke votes if no proposal is pending
     if (!release && verProp.votes.pass.length == 0) {
       return;
@@ -219,12 +228,12 @@ contract ReleaseOracle {
     // Cast the vote and return if the proposal cannot be resolved yet
     if (release) {
       votes.pass.push(msg.sender);
-      if (votes.pass.length <= signers.length / 2) {
+      if (votes.pass.length <= voters.length / 2) {
         return;
       }
     } else {
       votes.fail.push(msg.sender);
-      if (votes.fail.length <= signers.length / 2) {
+      if (votes.fail.length <= voters.length / 2) {
         return;
       }
     }
diff --git a/contracts/release/contract_test.go b/release/contract_test.go
similarity index 97%
rename from contracts/release/contract_test.go
rename to release/contract_test.go
index 7aa3a577db..11a039992b 100644
--- a/contracts/release/contract_test.go
+++ b/release/contract_test.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func setupReleaseTest(t *testing.T, prefund ...*ecdsa.PrivateKey) (*ecdsa.Privat
 	sim := backends.NewSimulatedBackend(accounts...)
 
 	// Deploy a version oracle contract, commit and return
-	_, _, oracle, err := DeployReleaseOracle(auth, sim)
+	_, _, oracle, err := DeployReleaseOracle(auth, sim, []common.Address{auth.From})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to deploy version contract: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ func TestVersionRelease(t *testing.T) {
 
 		// Propose release with half voters and check that the release does not yet go through
 		for j := 0; j < (i+1)/2; j++ {
-			if _, err = oracle.Release(bind.NewKeyedTransactor(keys[j]), uint32(i), uint32(i+1), uint32(i+2), [20]byte{}); err != nil {
+			if _, err = oracle.Release(bind.NewKeyedTransactor(keys[j]), uint32(i), uint32(i+1), uint32(i+2), [20]byte{byte(i + 3)}); err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("Iter #%d: failed valid release attempt: %v", i, err)
 			}
 		}
@@ -254,8 +254,8 @@ func TestVersionRelease(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		// Pass the release and check that it became the next version
-		verMajor, verMinor, verPatch, verCommit = uint32(i), uint32(i+1), uint32(i+2), [20]byte{}
-		if _, err = oracle.Release(bind.NewKeyedTransactor(keys[(i+1)/2]), uint32(i), uint32(i+1), uint32(i+2), [20]byte{}); err != nil {
+		verMajor, verMinor, verPatch, verCommit = uint32(i), uint32(i+1), uint32(i+2), [20]byte{byte(i + 3)}
+		if _, err = oracle.Release(bind.NewKeyedTransactor(keys[(i+1)/2]), uint32(i), uint32(i+1), uint32(i+2), [20]byte{byte(i + 3)}); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("Iter #%d: failed valid release completion attempt: %v", i, err)
 		}
 		sim.Commit()
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ func TestVersionNuking(t *testing.T) {
 	for i := 1; i < (len(keys)+1)/2; i++ {
 		// Propose release with an initial set of signers
 		for j := 0; j < i; j++ {
-			if _, err := oracle.Release(bind.NewKeyedTransactor(keys[j]), uint32(i), uint32(i+1), uint32(i+2), [20]byte{}); err != nil {
+			if _, err := oracle.Release(bind.NewKeyedTransactor(keys[j]), uint32(i), uint32(i+1), uint32(i+2), [20]byte{byte(i + 3)}); err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("Iter #%d: failed valid proposal attempt: %v", i, err)
 			}
 		}
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ func TestVersionAutoNuke(t *testing.T) {
 		sim.Commit()
 	}
 	// Make a release proposal and check it's existence
-	if _, err := oracle.Release(bind.NewKeyedTransactor(keys[0]), 1, 2, 3, [20]byte{}); err != nil {
+	if _, err := oracle.Release(bind.NewKeyedTransactor(keys[0]), 1, 2, 3, [20]byte{4}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed valid proposal attempt: %v", err)
 	}
 	sim.Commit()
diff --git a/contracts/release/generator.go b/release/generator.go
similarity index 100%
rename from contracts/release/generator.go
rename to release/generator.go
diff --git a/release/release.go b/release/release.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..05b4885b50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release/release.go
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+// Copyright 2016 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+// Package release contains the node service that tracks client releases.
+package release
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts/abi/bind"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/logger"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/logger/glog"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/node"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/p2p"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
+)
+
+// Interval to check for new releases
+const releaseRecheckInterval = time.Hour
+
+// Config contains the configurations of the release service.
+type Config struct {
+	Oracle common.Address // Ethereum address of the release oracle
+	Major  uint32         // Major version component of the release
+	Minor  uint32         // Minor version component of the release
+	Patch  uint32         // Patch version component of the release
+	Commit [20]byte       // Git SHA1 commit hash of the release
+}
+
+// ReleaseService is a node service that periodically checks the blockchain for
+// newly released versions of the client being run and issues a warning to the
+// user about it.
+type ReleaseService struct {
+	config Config          // Current version to check releases against
+	oracle *ReleaseOracle  // Native binding to the release oracle contract
+	quit   chan chan error // Quit channel to terminate the version checker
+}
+
+// NewReleaseService creates a new service to periodically check for new client
+// releases and notify the user of such.
+func NewReleaseService(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config Config) (node.Service, error) {
+	// Retrieve the Ethereum service dependency to access the blockchain
+	var ethereum *eth.Ethereum
+	if err := ctx.Service(&ethereum); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	// Construct the release service
+	contract, err := NewReleaseOracle(config.Oracle, eth.NewContractBackend(ethereum))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &ReleaseService{
+		config: config,
+		oracle: contract,
+		quit:   make(chan chan error),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// Protocols returns an empty list of P2P protocols as the release service does
+// not have a networking component.
+func (r *ReleaseService) Protocols() []p2p.Protocol { return nil }
+
+// APIs returns an empty list of RPC descriptors as the release service does not
+// expose any functioanlity to the outside world.
+func (r *ReleaseService) APIs() []rpc.API { return nil }
+
+// Start spawns the periodic version checker goroutine
+func (r *ReleaseService) Start(server *p2p.Server) error {
+	go r.checker()
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Stop terminates all goroutines belonging to the service, blocking until they
+// are all terminated.
+func (r *ReleaseService) Stop() error {
+	errc := make(chan error)
+	r.quit <- errc
+	return <-errc
+}
+
+// checker runs indefinitely in the background, periodically checking for new
+// client releases.
+func (r *ReleaseService) checker() {
+	// Set up the timers to periodically check for releases
+	timer := time.NewTimer(0) // Immediately fire a version check
+	defer timer.Stop()
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		// If the time arrived, check for a new release
+		case <-timer.C:
+			// Rechedule the timer before continuing
+			timer.Reset(releaseRecheckInterval)
+
+			// Retrieve the current version, and handle missing contracts gracefully
+			version, err := r.oracle.CurrentVersion(nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				if err == bind.ErrNoCode {
+					glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Release oracle not found at %x", r.config.Oracle)
+					continue
+				}
+				glog.V(logger.Error).Infof("Failed to retrieve current release: %v", err)
+				continue
+			}
+			// Version was successfully retrieved, notify if newer than ours
+			if version.Major > r.config.Major ||
+				(version.Major == r.config.Major && version.Minor > r.config.Minor) ||
+				(version.Major == r.config.Major && version.Minor == r.config.Minor && version.Patch > r.config.Patch) {
+
+				warning := fmt.Sprintf("Client v%d.%d.%d-%x seems older than the latest upstream release v%d.%d.%d-%x",
+					r.config.Major, r.config.Minor, r.config.Patch, r.config.Commit[:4], version.Major, version.Minor, version.Patch, version.Commit[:4])
+				howtofix := fmt.Sprintf("Please check https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/releases for new releases")
+				separator := strings.Repeat("-", len(warning))
+
+				glog.V(logger.Warn).Info(separator)
+				glog.V(logger.Warn).Info(warning)
+				glog.V(logger.Warn).Info(howtofix)
+				glog.V(logger.Warn).Info(separator)
+			} else {
+				glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Client v%d.%d.%d-%x seems up to date with upstream v%d.%d.%d-%x",
+					r.config.Major, r.config.Minor, r.config.Patch, r.config.Commit[:4], version.Major, version.Minor, version.Patch, version.Commit[:4])
+			}
+
+		// If termination was requested, return
+		case errc := <-r.quit:
+			errc <- nil
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}