diff --git a/AndroidManifest.xml b/AndroidManifest.xml
index b8a1d55..d139301 100644
--- a/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     package="i2p.bote.android"
     android:versionCode="1"
     android:versionName="0.1" >
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
 
     <uses-sdk
         android:minSdkVersion="9"
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@
         android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
         android:label="@string/app_name"
         android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
+        <service android:name="i2p.bote.android.service.BoteService" />
         <activity
             android:name="i2p.bote.android.EmailListActivity"
             android:label="@string/app_name"
diff --git a/res/menu/main.xml b/res/menu/main.xml
index 3c656f8..c0e3174 100644
--- a/res/menu/main.xml
+++ b/res/menu/main.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,18 @@
 <menu xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
     xmlns:i2pandroid="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto" >
 
+    <item
+        android:id="@+id/action_start_bote"
+        android:orderInCategory="1"
+        android:title="@string/action_start_bote"
+        i2pandroid:showAsAction="never"/>
+
+    <item
+        android:id="@+id/action_stop_bote"
+        android:orderInCategory="2"
+        android:title="@string/action_stop_bote"
+        i2pandroid:showAsAction="never"/>
+
     <item
         android:id="@+id/action_settings"
         android:orderInCategory="100"
diff --git a/res/values/strings.xml b/res/values/strings.xml
index b713eb3..48bfe6c 100644
--- a/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
     <string name="app_name">Bote</string>
     <string name="action_new_email">New email</string>
     <string name="action_send_email">Send email</string>
+    <string name="action_start_bote">Start Bote</string>
+    <string name="action_stop_bote">Stop Bote</string>
     <string name="action_settings">Settings</string>
 
     <string name="items_selected">%s selected</string>
diff --git a/src/i2p/bote/android/EmailListActivity.java b/src/i2p/bote/android/EmailListActivity.java
index ea955ff..ff49946 100644
--- a/src/i2p/bote/android/EmailListActivity.java
+++ b/src/i2p/bote/android/EmailListActivity.java
@@ -4,10 +4,13 @@ import net.i2p.client.I2PClient;
 import i2p.bote.I2PBote;
 import i2p.bote.android.addressbook.AddressBookActivity;
 import i2p.bote.android.config.SettingsActivity;
+import i2p.bote.android.service.BoteService;
 import i2p.bote.android.util.MoveToDialogFragment;
 import i2p.bote.folder.EmailFolder;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.preference.PreferenceManager;
+import android.app.ActivityManager;
+import android.app.ActivityManager.RunningServiceInfo;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.content.SharedPreferences;
@@ -200,9 +203,22 @@ public class EmailListActivity extends ActionBarActivity implements
     public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
         // Inflate the menu
         getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main, menu);
+        if (isBoteServiceRunning())
+            menu.findItem(R.id.action_start_bote).setVisible(false);
+        else
+            menu.findItem(R.id.action_stop_bote).setVisible(false);
         return super.onCreateOptionsMenu(menu);
     }
 
+    private boolean isBoteServiceRunning() {
+        ActivityManager manager = (ActivityManager) getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
+        for (RunningServiceInfo service : manager.getRunningServices(Integer.MAX_VALUE)) {
+            if (BoteService.class.getName().equals(service.service.getClassName()))
+                return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
         // The action bar home/up action should open or close the drawer.
@@ -212,6 +228,16 @@ public class EmailListActivity extends ActionBarActivity implements
         }
 
         switch (item.getItemId()) {
+        case R.id.action_start_bote:
+            Intent start = new Intent(this, BoteService.class);
+            startService(start);
+            return true;
+
+        case R.id.action_stop_bote:
+            Intent stop = new Intent(this, BoteService.class);
+            stopService(stop);
+            return true;
+
         case R.id.action_settings:
             Intent si = new Intent(this, SettingsActivity.class);
             startActivity(si);
diff --git a/src/i2p/bote/android/service/BoteService.java b/src/i2p/bote/android/service/BoteService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3018ca0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/i2p/bote/android/service/BoteService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package i2p.bote.android.service;
+
+import i2p.bote.I2PBote;
+import android.app.Service;
+import android.content.Intent;
+import android.os.IBinder;
+
+public class BoteService extends Service {
+    @Override
+    public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
+        I2PBote.getInstance().startUp();
+        return START_STICKY;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onDestroy() {
+        I2PBote.getInstance().shutDown();
+    }
+}