diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d20b86728..ec4cf86f6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
     "socket.io-client": "1.7.3",
     "stats.js": "^0.17.0",
     "tap": "^10.2.0",
+    "tiny-worker": "^2.1.1",
     "webpack": "^2.4.1",
     "webpack-dev-server": "^2.4.1"
   }
diff --git a/src/dispatch/central-dispatch.js b/src/dispatch/central-dispatch.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6dd236255
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dispatch/central-dispatch.js
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+const SharedDispatch = require('./shared-dispatch');
+
+const log = require('../util/log');
+
+/**
+ * This class serves as the central broker for message dispatch. It expects to operate on the main thread / Window and
+ * it must be informed of any Worker threads which will participate in the messaging system. From any context in the
+ * messaging system, the dispatcher's "call" method can call any method on any "service" provided in any participating
+ * context. The dispatch system will forward function arguments and return values across worker boundaries as needed.
+ * @see {WorkerDispatch}
+ */
+class CentralDispatch extends SharedDispatch {
+    constructor () {
+        super();
+
+        /**
+         * Map of channel name to worker or local service provider.
+         * If the entry is a Worker, the service is provided by an object on that worker.
+         * Otherwise, the service is provided locally and methods on the service will be called directly.
+         * @see {setService}
+         * @type {object.<Worker|object>}
+         */
+        this.services = {};
+
+        /**
+         * The constructor we will use to recognize workers.
+         * @type {Function}
+         */
+        this.workerClass = (typeof Worker === 'undefined' ? null : Worker);
+
+        /**
+         * List of workers attached to this dispatcher.
+         * @type {Array}
+         */
+        this.workers = [];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set a local object as the global provider of the specified service.
+     * WARNING: Any method on the provider can be called from any worker within the dispatch system.
+     * @param {string} service - a globally unique string identifying this service. Examples: 'vm', 'gui', 'extension9'.
+     * @param {object} provider - a local object which provides this service.
+     * @returns {Promise} - a promise which will resolve once the service is registered.
+     */
+    setService (service, provider) {
+        /** Return a promise for consistency with {@link WorkerDispatch#setService} */
+        try {
+            if (this.services.hasOwnProperty(service)) {
+                log.warn(`Central dispatch replacing existing service provider for ${service}`);
+            }
+            this.services[service] = provider;
+            return Promise.resolve();
+        } catch (e) {
+            return Promise.reject(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Add a worker to the message dispatch system. The worker must implement a compatible message dispatch framework.
+     * The dispatcher will immediately attempt to "handshake" with the worker.
+     * @param {Worker} worker - the worker to add into the dispatch system.
+     */
+    addWorker (worker) {
+        if (this.workers.indexOf(worker) === -1) {
+            this.workers.push(worker);
+            worker.onmessage = this._onMessage.bind(this, worker);
+            this._remoteCall(worker, 'dispatch', 'handshake').catch(e => {
+                log.error(`Could not handshake with worker: ${JSON.stringify(e)}`);
+            });
+        } else {
+            log.warn('Central dispatch ignoring attempt to add duplicate worker');
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Fetch the service provider object for a particular service name.
+     * @override
+     * @param {string} service - the name of the service to look up
+     * @returns {{provider:(object|Worker), isRemote:boolean}} - the means to contact the service, if found
+     * @protected
+     */
+    _getServiceProvider (service) {
+        const provider = this.services[service];
+        return provider && {
+            provider,
+            isRemote: provider instanceof this.workerClass
+        };
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Handle a call message sent to the dispatch service itself
+     * @override
+     * @param {Worker} worker - the worker which sent the message.
+     * @param {DispatchCallMessage} message - the message to be handled.
+     * @returns {Promise|undefined} - a promise for the results of this operation, if appropriate
+     * @protected
+     */
+    _onDispatchMessage (worker, message) {
+        let promise;
+        switch (message.method) {
+        case 'setService':
+            promise = this.setService(message.args[0], worker);
+            break;
+        default:
+            log.error(`Central dispatch received message for unknown method: ${message.method}`);
+        }
+        return promise;
+    }
+}
+
+module.exports = new CentralDispatch();
diff --git a/src/dispatch/shared-dispatch.js b/src/dispatch/shared-dispatch.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d582dc170
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dispatch/shared-dispatch.js
@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+const log = require('../util/log');
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {object} DispatchCallMessage - a message to the dispatch system representing a service method call
+ * @property {*} responseId - send a response message with this response ID. See {@link DispatchResponseMessage}
+ * @property {string} service - the name of the service to be called
+ * @property {string} method - the name of the method to be called
+ * @property {Array|undefined} args - the arguments to be passed to the method
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {object} DispatchResponseMessage - a message to the dispatch system representing the results of a call
+ * @property {*} responseId - a copy of the response ID from the call which generated this response
+ * @property {*|undefined} error - if this is truthy, then it contains results from a failed call (such as an exception)
+ * @property {*|undefined} result - if error is not truthy, then this contains the return value of the call (if any)
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {DispatchCallMessage|DispatchResponseMessage} DispatchMessage
+ * Any message to the dispatch system.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * The SharedDispatch class is responsible for dispatch features shared by
+ * {@link CentralDispatch} and {@link WorkerDispatch}.
+ */
+class SharedDispatch {
+    constructor () {
+        /**
+         * List of callback registrations for promises waiting for a response from a call to a service on another
+         * worker. A callback registration is an array of [resolve,reject] Promise functions.
+         * Calls to local services don't enter this list.
+         * @type {Array.<[Function,Function]>}
+         */
+        this.callbacks = [];
+
+        /**
+         * The next response ID to be used.
+         * @type {int}
+         */
+        this.nextResponseId = 0;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Call a particular method on a particular service, regardless of whether that service is provided locally or on
+     * a worker. If the service is provided by a worker, the `args` will be copied using the Structured Clone
+     * algorithm, except for any items which are also in the `transfer` list. Ownership of those items will be
+     * transferred to the worker, and they should not be used after this call.
+     * @example
+     *      dispatcher.call('vm', 'setData', 'cat', 42);
+     *      // this finds the worker for the 'vm' service, then on that worker calls:
+     *      vm.setData('cat', 42);
+     * @param {string} service - the name of the service.
+     * @param {string} method - the name of the method.
+     * @param {*} [args] - the arguments to be copied to the method, if any.
+     * @returns {Promise} - a promise for the return value of the service method.
+     */
+    call (service, method, ...args) {
+        return this.transferCall(service, method, null, ...args);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Call a particular method on a particular service, regardless of whether that service is provided locally or on
+     * a worker. If the service is provided by a worker, the `args` will be copied using the Structured Clone
+     * algorithm, except for any items which are also in the `transfer` list. Ownership of those items will be
+     * transferred to the worker, and they should not be used after this call.
+     * @example
+     *      dispatcher.transferCall('vm', 'setData', [myArrayBuffer], 'cat', myArrayBuffer);
+     *      // this finds the worker for the 'vm' service, transfers `myArrayBuffer` to it, then on that worker calls:
+     *      vm.setData('cat', myArrayBuffer);
+     * @param {string} service - the name of the service.
+     * @param {string} method - the name of the method.
+     * @param {Array} [transfer] - objects to be transferred instead of copied. Must be present in `args` to be useful.
+     * @param {*} [args] - the arguments to be copied to the method, if any.
+     * @returns {Promise} - a promise for the return value of the service method.
+     */
+    transferCall (service, method, transfer, ...args) {
+        try {
+            const {provider, isRemote} = this._getServiceProvider(service);
+            if (provider) {
+                if (isRemote) {
+                    return this._remoteTransferCall(provider, service, method, transfer, ...args);
+                }
+
+                const result = provider[method].apply(provider, args);
+                return Promise.resolve(result);
+            }
+            return Promise.reject(new Error(`Service not found: ${service}`));
+        } catch (e) {
+            return Promise.reject(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Like {@link call}, but force the call to be posted through a particular communication channel.
+     * @param {object} provider - send the call through this object's `postMessage` function.
+     * @param {string} service - the name of the service.
+     * @param {string} method - the name of the method.
+     * @param {*} [args] - the arguments to be copied to the method, if any.
+     * @returns {Promise} - a promise for the return value of the service method.
+     */
+    _remoteCall (provider, service, method, ...args) {
+        return this._remoteTransferCall(provider, service, method, null, ...args);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Like {@link transferCall}, but force the call to be posted through a particular communication channel.
+     * @param {object} provider - send the call through this object's `postMessage` function.
+     * @param {string} service - the name of the service.
+     * @param {string} method - the name of the method.
+     * @param {Array} [transfer] - objects to be transferred instead of copied. Must be present in `args` to be useful.
+     * @param {*} [args] - the arguments to be copied to the method, if any.
+     * @returns {Promise} - a promise for the return value of the service method.
+     */
+    _remoteTransferCall (provider, service, method, transfer, ...args) {
+        return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+            const responseId = this._storeCallbacks(resolve, reject);
+            if (transfer) {
+                provider.postMessage({service, method, responseId, args}, transfer);
+            } else {
+                provider.postMessage({service, method, responseId, args});
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Store callback functions pending a response message.
+     * @param {Function} resolve - function to call if the service method returns.
+     * @param {Function} reject - function to call if the service method throws.
+     * @returns {*} - a unique response ID for this set of callbacks. See {@link _deliverResponse}.
+     * @protected
+     */
+    _storeCallbacks (resolve, reject) {
+        const responseId = this.nextResponseId++;
+        this.callbacks[responseId] = [resolve, reject];
+        return responseId;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Deliver call response from a worker. This should only be called as the result of a message from a worker.
+     * @param {int} responseId - the response ID of the callback set to call.
+     * @param {DispatchResponseMessage} message - the message containing the response value(s).
+     * @protected
+     */
+    _deliverResponse (responseId, message) {
+        try {
+            const [resolve, reject] = this.callbacks[responseId];
+            delete this.callbacks[responseId];
+            if (message.error) {
+                reject(message.error);
+            } else {
+                resolve(message.result);
+            }
+        } catch (e) {
+            log.error(`Dispatch callback failed: ${JSON.stringify(e)}`);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Handle a message event received from a connected worker.
+     * @param {Worker} worker - the worker which sent the message, or the global object if running in a worker.
+     * @param {MessageEvent} event - the message event to be handled.
+     * @protected
+     */
+    _onMessage (worker, event) {
+        /** @type {DispatchMessage} */
+        const message = event.data;
+        message.args = message.args || [];
+        let promise;
+        if (message.service) {
+            if (message.service === 'dispatch') {
+                promise = this._onDispatchMessage(worker, message);
+            } else {
+                promise = this.call(message.service, message.method, ...message.args);
+            }
+        } else if (typeof message.responseId === 'undefined') {
+            log.error(`Dispatch caught malformed message from a worker: ${JSON.stringify(event)}`);
+        } else {
+            this._deliverResponse(message.responseId, message);
+        }
+        if (promise) {
+            if (typeof message.responseId === 'undefined') {
+                log.error(`Dispatch message missing required response ID: ${JSON.stringify(event)}`);
+            } else {
+                promise.then(
+                    result => worker.postMessage({responseId: message.responseId, result}),
+                    error => worker.postMessage({responseId: message.responseId, error})
+                );
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Fetch the service provider object for a particular service name.
+     * @abstract
+     * @param {string} service - the name of the service to look up
+     * @returns {{provider:(object|Worker), isRemote:boolean}} - the means to contact the service, if found
+     * @protected
+     */
+    _getServiceProvider (service) {
+        throw new Error(`Could not get provider for ${service}: _getServiceProvider not implemented`);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Handle a call message sent to the dispatch service itself
+     * @abstract
+     * @param {Worker} worker - the worker which sent the message.
+     * @param {DispatchCallMessage} message - the message to be handled.
+     * @returns {Promise|undefined} - a promise for the results of this operation, if appropriate
+     * @private
+     */
+    _onDispatchMessage (worker, message) {
+        throw new Error(`Unimplemented dispatch message handler cannot handle ${message.method} method`);
+    }
+}
+
+module.exports = SharedDispatch;
diff --git a/src/dispatch/worker-dispatch.js b/src/dispatch/worker-dispatch.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..10542af46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dispatch/worker-dispatch.js
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+const SharedDispatch = require('./shared-dispatch');
+
+const log = require('../util/log');
+
+/**
+ * This class provides a Worker with the means to participate in the message dispatch system managed by CentralDispatch.
+ * From any context in the messaging system, the dispatcher's "call" method can call any method on any "service"
+ * provided in any participating context. The dispatch system will forward function arguments and return values across
+ * worker boundaries as needed.
+ * @see {CentralDispatch}
+ */
+class WorkerDispatch extends SharedDispatch {
+    constructor () {
+        super();
+
+        /**
+         * This promise will be resolved when we have successfully connected to central dispatch.
+         * @type {Promise}
+         * @see {waitForConnection}
+         * @private
+         */
+        this._connectionPromise = new Promise(resolve => {
+            this._onConnect = resolve;
+        });
+
+        /**
+         * Map of service name to local service provider.
+         * If a service is not listed here, it is assumed to be provided by another context (another Worker or the main
+         * thread).
+         * @see {setService}
+         * @type {object}
+         */
+        this.services = {};
+
+        this._onMessage = this._onMessage.bind(this, self);
+        if (typeof self !== 'undefined') {
+            self.onmessage = this._onMessage;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @returns {Promise} a promise which will resolve upon connection to central dispatch. If you need to make a call
+     * immediately on "startup" you can attach a 'then' to this promise.
+     * @example
+     *      dispatch.waitForConnection.then(() => {
+     *          dispatch.call('myService', 'hello');
+     *      })
+     */
+    get waitForConnection () {
+        return this._connectionPromise;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set a local object as the global provider of the specified service.
+     * WARNING: Any method on the provider can be called from any worker within the dispatch system.
+     * @param {string} service - a globally unique string identifying this service. Examples: 'vm', 'gui', 'extension9'.
+     * @param {object} provider - a local object which provides this service.
+     * @returns {Promise} - a promise which will resolve once the service is registered.
+     */
+    setService (service, provider) {
+        if (this.services.hasOwnProperty(service)) {
+            log.warn(`Worker dispatch replacing existing service provider for ${service}`);
+        }
+        this.services[service] = provider;
+        return this.waitForConnection.then(() => this._remoteCall(self, 'dispatch', 'setService', service));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Fetch the service provider object for a particular service name.
+     * @override
+     * @param {string} service - the name of the service to look up
+     * @returns {{provider:(object|Worker), isRemote:boolean}} - the means to contact the service, if found
+     * @protected
+     */
+    _getServiceProvider (service) {
+        // if we don't have a local service by this name, contact central dispatch by calling `postMessage` on self
+        const provider = this.services[service];
+        return {
+            provider: provider || self,
+            isRemote: !provider
+        };
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Handle a call message sent to the dispatch service itself
+     * @override
+     * @param {Worker} worker - the worker which sent the message.
+     * @param {DispatchCallMessage} message - the message to be handled.
+     * @returns {Promise|undefined} - a promise for the results of this operation, if appropriate
+     * @protected
+     */
+    _onDispatchMessage (worker, message) {
+        let promise;
+        switch (message.method) {
+        case 'handshake':
+            promise = this._onConnect();
+            break;
+        case 'terminate':
+            // Don't close until next tick, after sending confirmation back
+            setTimeout(() => self.close(), 0);
+            promise = Promise.resolve();
+            break;
+        default:
+            log.error(`Worker dispatch received message for unknown method: ${message.method}`);
+        }
+        return promise;
+    }
+}
+
+module.exports = new WorkerDispatch();
diff --git a/test/fixtures/dispatch-test-service.js b/test/fixtures/dispatch-test-service.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3e01e68f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/dispatch-test-service.js
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+class DispatchTestService {
+    returnFortyTwo () {
+        return 42;
+    }
+
+    doubleArgument (x) {
+        return 2 * x;
+    }
+
+    throwException () {
+        throw new Error('This is a test exception thrown by DispatchTest');
+    }
+}
+
+module.exports = DispatchTestService;
diff --git a/test/fixtures/dispatch-test-worker-shim.js b/test/fixtures/dispatch-test-worker-shim.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ae11a4950
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/dispatch-test-worker-shim.js
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+const Module = require('module');
+
+const callsite = require('callsite');
+const path = require('path');
+
+const oldRequire = Module.prototype.require;
+Module.prototype.require = function (target) {
+    if (target.indexOf('/') === -1) {
+        return oldRequire.apply(this, arguments);
+    }
+
+    const stack = callsite();
+    const callerFile = stack[2].getFileName();
+    const callerDir = path.dirname(callerFile);
+    target = path.resolve(callerDir, target);
+    return oldRequire.call(this, target);
+};
+
+oldRequire(path.resolve(__dirname, 'dispatch-test-worker'));
diff --git a/test/fixtures/dispatch-test-worker.js b/test/fixtures/dispatch-test-worker.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2c57fbb3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/dispatch-test-worker.js
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+const dispatch = require('../../src/dispatch/worker-dispatch');
+const DispatchTestService = require('./dispatch-test-service');
+const log = require('../../src/util/log');
+
+dispatch.setService('RemoteDispatchTest', new DispatchTestService());
+
+dispatch.waitForConnection.then(() => {
+    dispatch.call('test', 'onWorkerReady').catch(e => {
+        log(`Test worker failed to call onWorkerReady: ${JSON.stringify(e)}`);
+    });
+});
diff --git a/test/unit/dispatch.js b/test/unit/dispatch.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fdcbdb3ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/dispatch.js
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+const DispatchTestService = require('../fixtures/dispatch-test-service');
+const Worker = require('tiny-worker');
+
+const dispatch = require('../../src/dispatch/central-dispatch');
+const path = require('path');
+const test = require('tap').test;
+
+
+// By default Central Dispatch works with the Worker class built into the browser. Tell it to use TinyWorker instead.
+dispatch.workerClass = Worker;
+
+const runServiceTest = function (serviceName, t) {
+    const promises = [];
+
+    promises.push(dispatch.call(serviceName, 'returnFortyTwo')
+        .then(
+            x => t.equal(x, 42),
+            e => t.fail(e)
+        ));
+
+    promises.push(dispatch.call(serviceName, 'doubleArgument', 9)
+        .then(
+            x => t.equal(x, 18),
+            e => t.fail(e)
+        ));
+
+    promises.push(dispatch.call(serviceName, 'doubleArgument', 123)
+        .then(
+            x => t.equal(x, 246),
+            e => t.fail(e)
+        ));
+
+    // I tried using `t.rejects` here but ran into https://github.com/tapjs/node-tap/issues/384
+    promises.push(dispatch.call(serviceName, 'throwException')
+        .then(
+            () => t.fail('exception was not propagated as expected'),
+            () => t.pass('exception was propagated as expected')
+        ));
+
+    return Promise.all(promises);
+};
+
+test('local', t => {
+    dispatch.setService('LocalDispatchTest', new DispatchTestService())
+        .catch(e => t.fail(e));
+
+    return runServiceTest('LocalDispatchTest', t);
+});
+
+test('remote', t => {
+    const fixturesDir = path.resolve(__dirname, '../fixtures');
+    const worker = new Worker('./test/fixtures/dispatch-test-worker-shim.js', null, {cwd: fixturesDir});
+    dispatch.addWorker(worker);
+
+    const waitForWorker = new Promise(resolve => {
+        dispatch.setService('test', {onWorkerReady: resolve})
+            .catch(e => t.fail(e));
+    });
+
+    return waitForWorker
+        .then(() => runServiceTest('RemoteDispatchTest', t), e => t.fail(e))
+        .then(() => dispatch._remoteCall(worker, 'dispatch', 'terminate'), e => t.fail(e));
+});