diff --git a/coreplugin.py b/coreplugin.py
index ffcfed2..781341e 100644
--- a/coreplugin.py
+++ b/coreplugin.py
@@ -186,6 +186,55 @@ def handle_version(irc, source, command, args):
     irc.proto.numeric(irc.sid, 351, source, fullversion)
 utils.add_hook(handle_version, 'VERSION')
 
+def handle_newservice(irc, source, command, args):
+    """Handles new service bot introductions."""
+
+    if not irc.connected.is_set():
+        return
+
+    name = args['name']
+    ident = irc.botdata.get('ident') or 'pylink'
+    host = irc.serverdata["hostname"]
+    modes = []
+    for mode in ('oper', 'hideoper', 'hidechans'):
+        mode = irc.cmodes.get(mode)
+        if mode:
+            modes.append((mode, None))
+
+    # Track the service's UIDs on each network.
+    service = world.services[name]
+    service.uids[irc.name] = u = irc.proto.spawnClient(name, name,
+        irc.serverdata['hostname'], modes=modes, opertype="PyLink Service")
+
+    # TODO: channels should be tracked in a central database, not hardcoded
+    # in conf.
+    for chan in irc.serverdata['channels']:
+        irc.proto.join(u.uid, chan)
+
+utils.add_hook(handle_newservice, 'PYLINK_NEW_SERVICE')
+
+def handle_disconnect(irc, source, command, args):
+    """Handles network disconnections."""
+    for name, sbot in world.services.items():
+        try:
+            del sbot.uids[irc.name]
+            log.debug("coreplugin: removing uids[%s] from service bot %s", irc.name, sbot.name)
+        except KeyError:
+            continue
+
+utils.add_hook(handle_disconnect, 'PYLINK_DISCONNECT')
+
+def handle_endburst(irc, source, command, args):
+    """Handles network bursts."""
+    if source == irc.uplink:
+        log.debug('(%s): spawning service bots now.')
+
+        # We just connected. Burst all our registered services.
+        for name, sbot in world.services.items():
+            handle_newservice(irc, source, command, {'name': name})
+
+utils.add_hook(handle_endburst, 'ENDBURST')
+
 # Essential, core commands go here so that the "commands" plugin with less-important,
 # but still generic functions can be reloaded.
 
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index b923ab7..daa872b 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import string
 import re
 import importlib
 import os
+import collections
 
 from log import log
 import world
@@ -141,3 +142,64 @@ def getDatabaseName(dbname):
         dbname += '-%s' % conf.confname
     dbname += '.db'
     return dbname
+
+class ServiceBot():
+    def __init__(self, name, default_help=True, default_request=True, default_list=True):
+        self.name = name
+        # We make the command definitions a dict of lists of functions. Multiple
+        # plugins are actually allowed to bind to one function name; this just causes
+        # them to be called in the order that they are bound.
+        self.commands = collections.defaultdict(list)
+
+        # This tracks the UIDs of the service bot on different networks, as they are
+        # spawned.
+        self.uids = {}
+
+        if default_help:
+            self.add_cmd(self.help)
+
+        if default_request:
+            self.add_cmd(self.request)
+            self.add_cmd(self.remove)
+
+        if default_list:
+            self.add_cmd(self.listcommands, 'list')
+
+    def spawn(self, irc=None):
+        # Spawn the new service by calling the PYLINK_NEW_SERVICE hook,
+        # which is handled by coreplugin.
+        if irc is None:
+            for irc in world.networkobjects.values():
+                irc.callHooks([None, 'PYLINK_NEW_SERVICE', {'name': self.name}])
+        else:
+            raise NotImplementedError("Network specific plugins not supported yet.")
+
+
+    def add_cmd(self, func, name=None):
+        """Binds an IRC command function to the given command name."""
+        if name is None:
+            name = func.__name__
+        name = name.lower()
+
+        self.commands[name].append(func)
+        return func
+
+    def help(self, irc, source, args):
+        irc.reply("Help command stub called.")
+
+    def request(self, irc, source, args):
+        irc.reply("Request command stub called.")
+
+    def remove(self, irc, source, args):
+        irc.reply("Remove command stub called.")
+
+    def listcommands(self, irc, source, args):
+        irc.reply("List command stub called.")
+
+def registerService(name, *args, **kwargs):
+    name = name.lower()
+    if name in world.services:
+        raise ValueError("Service name %s is already bound!" % name)
+
+    world.services[name] = sbot = ServiceBot(name, *args, **kwargs)
+    sbot.spawn()
diff --git a/world.py b/world.py
index 9a44bcf..43c8f0f 100644
--- a/world.py
+++ b/world.py
@@ -14,13 +14,14 @@ testing = True
 # Sets the default protocol module to use with tests.
 testing_ircd = 'inspircd'
 
-global commands, hooks
-# This should be a mapping of command names to functions
+
 commands = defaultdict(list)
 hooks = defaultdict(list)
 networkobjects = {}
 plugins = {}
 whois_handlers = []
+services = {}
+
 started = threading.Event()
 
 plugins_folder = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), 'plugins')