diff --git a/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java b/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
index 1accddb..e5eac73 100644
--- a/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
+++ b/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Reference;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.ReferenceCardinality;
 import org.onlab.onos.ApplicationId;
+import org.onlab.onos.CoreService;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Host;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.HostId;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Path;
@@ -53,13 +54,16 @@
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
     protected FlowRuleService flowRuleService;
 
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected CoreService coreService;
+
     private ReactivePacketProcessor processor = new ReactivePacketProcessor();
 
     private ApplicationId appId;
 
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
-        appId = ApplicationId.getAppId();
+        appId = coreService.registerApplication("org.onlab.onos.fwd");
         packetService.addProcessor(processor, PacketProcessor.ADVISOR_MAX + 2);
         log.info("Started with Application ID {}", appId.id());
     }
diff --git a/apps/mobility/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mobility/HostMobility.java b/apps/mobility/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mobility/HostMobility.java
index 7958f99..88b3a5c 100644
--- a/apps/mobility/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mobility/HostMobility.java
+++ b/apps/mobility/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mobility/HostMobility.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Reference;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.ReferenceCardinality;
 import org.onlab.onos.ApplicationId;
+import org.onlab.onos.CoreService;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Host;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.device.DeviceService;
@@ -44,11 +45,14 @@
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
     protected DeviceService deviceService;
 
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected CoreService coreService;
+
     private ApplicationId appId;
 
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
-        appId = ApplicationId.getAppId();
+        appId = coreService.registerApplication("org.onlab.onos.mobility");
         hostService.addListener(new InternalHostListener());
         log.info("Started with Application ID {}", appId.id());
     }
diff --git a/apps/proxyarp/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/proxyarp/ProxyArp.java b/apps/proxyarp/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/proxyarp/ProxyArp.java
index a06470f..dc231ce 100644
--- a/apps/proxyarp/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/proxyarp/ProxyArp.java
+++ b/apps/proxyarp/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/proxyarp/ProxyArp.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Reference;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.ReferenceCardinality;
 import org.onlab.onos.ApplicationId;
+import org.onlab.onos.CoreService;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.packet.PacketContext;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.packet.PacketProcessor;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.packet.PacketService;
@@ -31,11 +32,14 @@
 
     private ProxyArpProcessor processor = new ProxyArpProcessor();
 
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected CoreService coreService;
+
     private ApplicationId appId;
 
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
-        appId = ApplicationId.getAppId();
+        appId = coreService.registerApplication("org.onlab.onos.proxyarp");
         packetService.addProcessor(processor, PacketProcessor.ADVISOR_MAX + 1);
         log.info("Started with Application ID {}", appId.id());
     }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/ApplicationId.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/ApplicationId.java
index 433265e..3fab53f 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/ApplicationId.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/ApplicationId.java
@@ -1,56 +1,21 @@
 package org.onlab.onos;
 
-import java.util.Objects;
-import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
 
 /**
- * Application id generator class.
+ * Application identifier.
  */
-public final class ApplicationId {
-
-    private static final AtomicInteger ID_DISPENCER = new AtomicInteger(1);
-    private final Integer id;
-
-    // Ban public construction
-    private ApplicationId(Integer id) {
-        this.id = id;
-    }
-
-    public Integer id() {
-        return id;
-    }
-
-    public static ApplicationId valueOf(Integer id) {
-        return new ApplicationId(id);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public int hashCode() {
-        return Objects.hash(id);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
-        if (this == obj) {
-            return true;
-        }
-        if (obj == null) {
-            return false;
-        }
-        if (!(obj instanceof ApplicationId)) {
-            return false;
-        }
-        ApplicationId other = (ApplicationId) obj;
-        return Objects.equals(this.id, other.id);
-    }
+public interface ApplicationId {
 
     /**
-     * Returns a new application id.
-     *
-     * @return app id
+     * Returns the application id.
+     * @return a short value
      */
-    public static ApplicationId getAppId() {
-        return new ApplicationId(ApplicationId.ID_DISPENCER.getAndIncrement());
-    }
+    short id();
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the applications supplied identifier.
+     * @return a string identifier
+     */
+    String name();
 
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/CoreService.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/CoreService.java
index 32c36c5..3302888 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/CoreService.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/CoreService.java
@@ -12,4 +12,21 @@
      */
     Version version();
 
+    /**
+     * Registers a new application by its name, which is expected
+     * to follow the reverse DNS convention, e.g.
+     * {@code org.flying.circus.app}
+     *
+     * @param identifier string identifier
+     * @return the application id
+     */
+    ApplicationId registerApplication(String identifier);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns an existing application id from a given id.
+     * @param id the short value of the id
+     * @return an application id
+     */
+    ApplicationId getAppId(Short id);
+
 }
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/DefaultFlowRule.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/DefaultFlowRule.java
index 47e9fed..e5504db 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/DefaultFlowRule.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/DefaultFlowRule.java
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
     private final FlowId id;
 
-    private final ApplicationId appId;
+    private final short appId;
 
     private final int timeout;
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
         this.timeout = timeout;
         this.created = System.currentTimeMillis();
 
-        this.appId = ApplicationId.valueOf((int) (flowId >> 32));
+        this.appId = (short) (flowId >>> 48);
         this.id = FlowId.valueOf(flowId);
     }
 
@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@
         this.priority = priority;
         this.selector = selector;
         this.treatment = treatement;
-        this.appId = appId;
+        this.appId = appId.id();
         this.timeout = timeout;
         this.created = System.currentTimeMillis();
 
-        this.id = FlowId.valueOf((((long) appId().id()) << 32) | (this.hash() & 0xffffffffL));
+        this.id = FlowId.valueOf((((long) this.appId) << 48) | (this.hash() & 0x0000ffffffffL));
     }
 
     public DefaultFlowRule(FlowRule rule) {
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ApplicationId appId() {
+    public short appId() {
         return appId;
     }
 
diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRule.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRule.java
index 410aed4..c63f247 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRule.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowRule.java
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package org.onlab.onos.net.flow;
 
-import org.onlab.onos.ApplicationId;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.intent.BatchOperationTarget;
 
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@
      *
      * @return an applicationId
      */
-    ApplicationId appId();
+    short appId();
 
     /**
      * Returns the flow rule priority given in natural order; higher numbers
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/impl/CoreManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/impl/CoreManager.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 4b1191f..0000000
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/cluster/impl/CoreManager.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-package org.onlab.onos.cluster.impl;
-
-import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
-import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
-import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
-import org.onlab.onos.CoreService;
-import org.onlab.onos.Version;
-import org.onlab.util.Tools;
-
-import java.io.File;
-import java.util.List;
-
-/**
- * Core service implementation.
- */
-@Component
-@Service
-public class CoreManager implements CoreService {
-
-    private static final File VERSION_FILE = new File("../VERSION");
-    private static Version version = Version.version("1.0.0-SNAPSHOT");
-
-    // TODO: work in progress
-
-    @Activate
-    public void activate() {
-        List<String> versionLines = Tools.slurp(VERSION_FILE);
-        if (versionLines != null && !versionLines.isEmpty()) {
-            version = Version.version(versionLines.get(0));
-        }
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public Version version() {
-        return version;
-    }
-
-}
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/impl/CoreManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/impl/CoreManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29a8438
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/impl/CoreManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.impl;
+
+import java.io.File;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
+
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Activate;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
+import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
+import org.onlab.onos.ApplicationId;
+import org.onlab.onos.CoreService;
+import org.onlab.onos.Version;
+import org.onlab.util.Tools;
+
+
+/**
+ * Core service implementation.
+ */
+@Component
+@Service
+public class CoreManager implements CoreService {
+
+    private static final AtomicInteger ID_DISPENSER = new AtomicInteger(1);
+    private static final File VERSION_FILE = new File("../VERSION");
+    private static Version version = Version.version("1.0.0-SNAPSHOT");
+
+    private final Map<Short, DefaultApplicationId> ids = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+
+    // TODO: work in progress
+
+    @Activate
+    public void activate() {
+        List<String> versionLines = Tools.slurp(VERSION_FILE);
+        if (versionLines != null && !versionLines.isEmpty()) {
+            version = Version.version(versionLines.get(0));
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Version version() {
+        return version;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ApplicationId getAppId(Short id) {
+        return ids.get(id);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ApplicationId registerApplication(String name) {
+        return new DefaultApplicationId((short) ID_DISPENSER.getAndIncrement(), name);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/impl/DefaultApplicationId.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/impl/DefaultApplicationId.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..04012db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/impl/DefaultApplicationId.java
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.impl;
+
+import java.util.Objects;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.ApplicationId;
+
+/**
+ * Application id generator class.
+ */
+public class DefaultApplicationId implements ApplicationId {
+
+
+    private final short id;
+    private final String name;
+
+
+    // Ban public construction
+    protected DefaultApplicationId(Short id, String identifier) {
+        this.id = id;
+        this.name = identifier;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public short id() {
+        return id;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String name() {
+        return name;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hash(id);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        if (!(obj instanceof DefaultApplicationId)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        DefaultApplicationId other = (DefaultApplicationId) obj;
+        return Objects.equals(this.id, other.id);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/impl/package-info.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/impl/package-info.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bbe539f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/impl/package-info.java
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+/**
+ *
+ */
+package org.onlab.onos.impl;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PathIntentInstaller.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PathIntentInstaller.java
index 56214c6..8111681 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PathIntentInstaller.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/impl/PathIntentInstaller.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Reference;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.ReferenceCardinality;
 import org.onlab.onos.ApplicationId;
+import org.onlab.onos.CoreService;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.ConnectPoint;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Link;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.flow.CompletedBatchOperation;
@@ -46,10 +47,14 @@
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
     protected FlowRuleService flowRuleService;
 
-    private final ApplicationId appId = ApplicationId.getAppId();
+    @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
+    protected CoreService coreService;
+
+    private ApplicationId appId;
 
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
+        appId = coreService.registerApplication("org.onlab.onos.net.intent");
         intentManager.registerInstaller(PathIntent.class, this);
     }
 
diff --git a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/impl/FlowRuleManagerTest.java b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/impl/FlowRuleManagerTest.java
index 5b363da..fb579ea 100644
--- a/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/impl/FlowRuleManagerTest.java
+++ b/core/net/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/impl/FlowRuleManagerTest.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.onlab.onos.ApplicationId;
 import org.onlab.onos.event.impl.TestEventDispatcher;
+import org.onlab.onos.impl.DefaultApplicationId;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.DefaultDevice;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Device;
 import org.onlab.onos.net.Device.Type;
@@ -59,6 +60,8 @@
  */
 public class FlowRuleManagerTest {
 
+
+
     private static final ProviderId PID = new ProviderId("of", "foo");
     private static final DeviceId DID = DeviceId.deviceId("of:001");
     private static final int TIMEOUT = 10;
@@ -87,7 +90,7 @@
         mgr.addListener(listener);
         provider = new TestProvider(PID);
         providerService = registry.register(provider);
-        appId = ApplicationId.getAppId();
+        appId = new TestApplicationId((short) 0, "FlowRuleManagerTest");
         assertTrue("provider should be registered",
                 registry.getProviders().contains(provider.id()));
     }
@@ -475,4 +478,11 @@
 
     }
 
+    public class TestApplicationId extends DefaultApplicationId {
+
+        public TestApplicationId(short id, String name) {
+            super(id, name);
+        }
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/flow/impl/DistributedFlowRuleStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/flow/impl/DistributedFlowRuleStore.java
index d49e00b..084435f 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/flow/impl/DistributedFlowRuleStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/flow/impl/DistributedFlowRuleStore.java
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@
     private final Multimap<DeviceId, FlowEntry> flowEntries =
             ArrayListMultimap.<DeviceId, FlowEntry>create();
 
-    private final Multimap<ApplicationId, FlowRule> flowEntriesById =
-            ArrayListMultimap.<ApplicationId, FlowRule>create();
+    private final Multimap<Short, FlowRule> flowEntriesById =
+            ArrayListMultimap.<Short, FlowRule>create();
 
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public synchronized Iterable<FlowRule> getFlowRulesByAppId(ApplicationId appId) {
-        Collection<FlowRule> rules = flowEntriesById.get(appId);
+        Collection<FlowRule> rules = flowEntriesById.get(appId.id());
         if (rules == null) {
             return Collections.emptyList();
         }
diff --git a/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/flow/impl/DistributedFlowRuleStore.java b/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/flow/impl/DistributedFlowRuleStore.java
index d49e00b..084435f 100644
--- a/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/flow/impl/DistributedFlowRuleStore.java
+++ b/core/store/hz/net/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/flow/impl/DistributedFlowRuleStore.java
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@
     private final Multimap<DeviceId, FlowEntry> flowEntries =
             ArrayListMultimap.<DeviceId, FlowEntry>create();
 
-    private final Multimap<ApplicationId, FlowRule> flowEntriesById =
-            ArrayListMultimap.<ApplicationId, FlowRule>create();
+    private final Multimap<Short, FlowRule> flowEntriesById =
+            ArrayListMultimap.<Short, FlowRule>create();
 
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public synchronized Iterable<FlowRule> getFlowRulesByAppId(ApplicationId appId) {
-        Collection<FlowRule> rules = flowEntriesById.get(appId);
+        Collection<FlowRule> rules = flowEntriesById.get(appId.id());
         if (rules == null) {
             return Collections.emptyList();
         }
diff --git a/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleFlowRuleStore.java b/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleFlowRuleStore.java
index 7ff797c..2d50851 100644
--- a/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleFlowRuleStore.java
+++ b/core/store/trivial/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/trivial/impl/SimpleFlowRuleStore.java
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@
     private final Multimap<DeviceId, FlowEntry> flowEntries =
             ArrayListMultimap.<DeviceId, FlowEntry>create();
 
-    private final Multimap<ApplicationId, FlowRule> flowEntriesById =
-            ArrayListMultimap.<ApplicationId, FlowRule>create();
+    private final Multimap<Short, FlowRule> flowEntriesById =
+            ArrayListMultimap.<Short, FlowRule>create();
 
     @Activate
     public void activate() {
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public synchronized Iterable<FlowRule> getFlowRulesByAppId(ApplicationId appId) {
-        Collection<FlowRule> rules = flowEntriesById.get(appId);
+        Collection<FlowRule> rules = flowEntriesById.get(appId.id());
         if (rules == null) {
             return Collections.emptyList();
         }