diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml
index 2036b7375..cfaa7e32e 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -94,5 +94,7 @@
       </intent-filter> 
     </activity>
 
+    <service android:name=".RelayService" />
+
   </application>
 </manifest>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
index a48cc00d1..102076c75 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
@@ -129,6 +129,9 @@ public class GamesList extends ListActivity {
         setListAdapter( m_adapter );
 
         FirstRunDialog.show( this, false );
+
+        Intent service = new Intent(this, RelayService.class );
+        startService( service );
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RelayService.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RelayService.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3c0a46b4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RelayService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../; ant install"; -*- */
+/*
+ * Copyright 2010 by Eric House (xwords@eehouse.org).  All rights
+ * reserved.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program 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
+ * General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
+ */
+
+package org.eehouse.android.xw4;
+
+import android.app.Service;
+import android.content.Intent;
+import android.os.IBinder;
+import android.app.Notification;
+import android.app.NotificationManager;
+import android.app.PendingIntent;
+
+public class RelayService extends Service {
+    private NotificationManager m_nm;
+
+    @Override
+    public void onCreate()
+    {
+        super.onCreate();
+        Utils.logf( "RelayService::onCreate() called" );
+
+        // setupNotification();
+
+        Thread thread = new Thread(null, m_task, getClass().getName() );
+        thread.start();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onDestroy()
+    {
+        Utils.logf( "RelayService::onDestroy() called" );
+        super.onDestroy();
+
+        // m_nm.cancel( R.string.running_notification );
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public IBinder onBind( Intent intent )
+    {
+        Utils.logf( "RelayService::onBind() called" );
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    //@Override
+    // protected int onStartCommand( Intent intent, int flags, int startId )
+    // {
+    //     Utils.logf( "RelayService::onStartCommand() called" );
+    //     // return super.onStartCommand( intent, flags, startId );
+    //     return 0;
+    // }
+
+    private void setupNotification()
+    {
+        m_nm = (NotificationManager)getSystemService( NOTIFICATION_SERVICE );
+
+        Notification notification = 
+            new Notification( R.drawable.icon48x48, "foo",
+                              System.currentTimeMillis());
+
+        PendingIntent intent = PendingIntent
+            .getActivity( this, 0, new Intent(this, BoardActivity.class), 0);
+
+        notification.setLatestEventInfo( this, "bazz", "bar", intent );
+        
+        m_nm.notify( R.string.running_notification, notification );
+    }
+
+    // Thread that does the actual work of pinging the relay
+    private Runnable m_task = new Runnable() {
+            public void run() {
+
+                // Set an alarm to try again in n minutes, then quit.
+
+                RelayService.this.stopSelf();
+            }
+        };
+    
+
+}
+