diff --git a/akka-core/src/main/scala/actor/ActiveObject.scala b/akka-core/src/main/scala/actor/ActiveObject.scala
index f83e3f91ed..b66b4558d3 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/main/scala/actor/ActiveObject.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/main/scala/actor/ActiveObject.scala
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 package se.scalablesolutions.akka.actor
 
+import Actor._
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.config.FaultHandlingStrategy
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.remote.protocol.RemoteProtocol.RemoteRequestProtocol
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.remote.{RemoteProtocolBuilder, RemoteClient, RemoteRequestProtocolIdFactory}
@@ -11,7 +12,6 @@ import se.scalablesolutions.akka.dispatch.{MessageDispatcher, Future, Completabl
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.config.ScalaConfig._
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.serialization.Serializer
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util._
-import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Helpers.narrow
 
 import org.codehaus.aspectwerkz.joinpoint.{MethodRtti, JoinPoint}
 import org.codehaus.aspectwerkz.proxy.Proxy
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ private[akka] sealed class ActiveObjectAspect {
       actorRef ! Invocation(joinPoint, true, true, sender, senderFuture)
       null.asInstanceOf[AnyRef]
     } else {
-      val result = narrow[AnyRef](actorRef !! (Invocation(joinPoint, false, isOneWay, sender, senderFuture), timeout))
+      val result = (actorRef !! (Invocation(joinPoint, false, isOneWay, sender, senderFuture), timeout)).as[AnyRef]
       if (result.isDefined) result.get
       else throw new IllegalStateException("No result defined for invocation [" + joinPoint + "]")
     }
diff --git a/akka-core/src/main/scala/dataflow/DataFlowVariable.scala b/akka-core/src/main/scala/dataflow/DataFlowVariable.scala
index 42d9c593bd..baf3e33f6e 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/main/scala/dataflow/DataFlowVariable.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/main/scala/dataflow/DataFlowVariable.scala
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import java.util.concurrent.{ConcurrentLinkedQueue, LinkedBlockingQueue}
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.actor.{Actor, ActorRef}
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.actor.Actor._
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.dispatch.CompletableFuture
-import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Helpers.narrow
 
 /**
  * Implements Oz-style dataflow (single assignment) variables.
@@ -103,7 +102,7 @@ import se.scalablesolutions.akka.dispatch.CompletableFuture
       else {
         val out = actorOf(new Out(this)).start
         blockedReaders.offer(out)
-        val result = narrow[T](out !! Get)
+        val result = (out !! Get).as[T]
         out ! Exit
         if (result.isDefined) result.get
         else throw new DataFlowVariableException("Timed out (after " + TIME_OUT + " milliseconds) while waiting for result")
diff --git a/akka-core/src/main/scala/remote/RemoteServer.scala b/akka-core/src/main/scala/remote/RemoteServer.scala
index 0749132ce2..54dfa4f075 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/main/scala/remote/RemoteServer.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/main/scala/remote/RemoteServer.scala
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ import java.util.concurrent.{ConcurrentHashMap, Executors}
 import java.util.{Map => JMap}
 
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.actor._
+import se.scalablesolutions.akka.actor.Actor._
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util._
-import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Helpers.narrow
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.remote.protocol.RemoteProtocol._
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.config.Config.config
 
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ class RemoteServerHandler(
     if (request.getIsOneWay) actorRef.!(message)(sender)
     else {
       try {
-        val resultOrNone = narrow[AnyRef](actorRef.!!(message)(sender))
+        val resultOrNone = (actorRef.!!(message)(sender)).as[AnyRef]
         val result = if (resultOrNone.isDefined) resultOrNone.get else null
         log.debug("Returning result from actor invocation [%s]", result)
         val replyBuilder = RemoteReplyProtocol.newBuilder
diff --git a/akka-core/src/test/scala/ActorPatternsTest.scala b/akka-core/src/test/scala/ActorPatternsTest.scala
index a130cc2d7c..f6205c2a91 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/test/scala/ActorPatternsTest.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/test/scala/ActorPatternsTest.scala
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import se.scalablesolutions.akka.config.ScalaConfig._
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.actor.Actor
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.actor.Actor._
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Logging
-import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Helpers.narrow
 
 import org.scalatest.Suite
 import org.junit.runner.RunWith
@@ -40,9 +39,9 @@ class ActorPatternsTest extends junit.framework.TestCase with Suite with MustMat
     }.start
 
     val result = for {
-      a <- narrow[Int](d !! (testMsg1,5000))
-      b <- narrow[Int](d !! (testMsg2,5000))
-      c <- narrow[Int](d !! (testMsg3,5000))
+      a <- (d !! (testMsg1,5000)).as[Int]
+      b <- (d !! (testMsg2,5000)).as[Int]
+      c <- (d !! (testMsg3,5000)).as[Int]
     } yield a + b + c
 
     result.get must be(21)
diff --git a/akka-core/src/test/scala/ExecutorBasedEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala b/akka-core/src/test/scala/ExecutorBasedEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala
index 8084900de2..e679bc6b4f 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/test/scala/ExecutorBasedEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/test/scala/ExecutorBasedEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import java.util.concurrent.{CountDownLatch, TimeUnit}
 import org.scalatest.junit.JUnitSuite
 import org.junit.Test
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.dispatch.Dispatchers
-import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Helpers.narrow
 import Actor._
 
 object ExecutorBasedEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec {
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ class ExecutorBasedEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec extends JUnitSuite {
 
   @Test def shouldSendReplySync = {
     val actor = actorOf[TestActor].start
-    val result = narrow[String](actor !! ("Hello", 10000))
+    val result = (actor !! ("Hello", 10000)).as[String]
     assert("World" === result.get)
     actor.stop
   }
diff --git a/akka-core/src/test/scala/InMemoryActorSpec.scala b/akka-core/src/test/scala/InMemoryActorSpec.scala
index 6700918169..fcc54399e2 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/test/scala/InMemoryActorSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/test/scala/InMemoryActorSpec.scala
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import org.scalatest.junit.JUnitSuite
 import org.junit.Test
 
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.stm.{Ref, TransactionalMap, TransactionalVector}
-import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Helpers.narrow
 import Actor._
 
 object InMemoryActorSpec {
@@ -117,7 +116,7 @@ class InMemoryActorSpec extends JUnitSuite {
     stateful.start
     stateful ! SetMapStateOneWay("testShouldNotRollbackStateForStatefulServerInCaseOfSuccess", "init") // set init state
     stateful ! SuccessOneWay("testShouldNotRollbackStateForStatefulServerInCaseOfSuccess", "new state") // transactionrequired
-    val notifier = narrow[CountDownLatch](stateful !! GetNotifier)
+    val notifier = (stateful !! GetNotifier).as[CountDownLatch]
     assert(notifier.get.await(1, TimeUnit.SECONDS))
     assert("new state" === (stateful !! GetMapState("testShouldNotRollbackStateForStatefulServerInCaseOfSuccess")).get)
   }
@@ -139,7 +138,7 @@ class InMemoryActorSpec extends JUnitSuite {
     failer.start
     stateful ! SetMapStateOneWay("testShouldRollbackStateForStatefulServerInCaseOfFailure", "init") // set init state
     stateful ! FailureOneWay("testShouldRollbackStateForStatefulServerInCaseOfFailure", "new state", failer) // call failing transactionrequired method
-    val notifier = narrow[CountDownLatch](stateful !! GetNotifier)
+    val notifier = (stateful !! GetNotifier).as[CountDownLatch]
     assert(notifier.get.await(1, TimeUnit.SECONDS))
     assert("init" === (stateful !! GetMapState("testShouldRollbackStateForStatefulServerInCaseOfFailure")).get) // check that state is == init state
   }
@@ -164,7 +163,7 @@ class InMemoryActorSpec extends JUnitSuite {
     stateful.start
     stateful ! SetVectorStateOneWay("init") // set init state
     stateful ! SuccessOneWay("testShouldNotRollbackStateForStatefulServerInCaseOfSuccess", "new state") // transactionrequired
-    val notifier = narrow[CountDownLatch](stateful !! GetNotifier)
+    val notifier = (stateful !! GetNotifier).as[CountDownLatch]
     assert(notifier.get.await(1, TimeUnit.SECONDS))
     assert(2 === (stateful !! GetVectorSize).get)
   }
@@ -187,7 +186,7 @@ class InMemoryActorSpec extends JUnitSuite {
     val failer = actorOf[InMemFailerActor]
     failer.start
     stateful ! FailureOneWay("testShouldRollbackStateForStatefulServerInCaseOfFailure", "new state", failer) // call failing transactionrequired method
-    val notifier = narrow[CountDownLatch](stateful !! GetNotifier)
+    val notifier = (stateful !! GetNotifier).as[CountDownLatch]
     assert(notifier.get.await(1, TimeUnit.SECONDS))
     assert(1 === (stateful !! GetVectorSize).get)
   }
@@ -212,7 +211,7 @@ class InMemoryActorSpec extends JUnitSuite {
     stateful.start
     stateful ! SetRefStateOneWay("init") // set init state
     stateful ! SuccessOneWay("testShouldNotRollbackStateForStatefulServerInCaseOfSuccess", "new state") // transactionrequired
-    val notifier = narrow[CountDownLatch](stateful !! GetNotifier)
+    val notifier = (stateful !! GetNotifier).as[CountDownLatch]
     assert(notifier.get.await(1, TimeUnit.SECONDS))
     assert("new state" === (stateful !! GetRefState).get)
   }
@@ -235,7 +234,7 @@ class InMemoryActorSpec extends JUnitSuite {
     val failer = actorOf[InMemFailerActor]
     failer.start
     stateful ! FailureOneWay("testShouldRollbackStateForStatefulServerInCaseOfFailure", "new state", failer) // call failing transactionrequired method
-    val notifier = narrow[CountDownLatch](stateful !! GetNotifier)
+    val notifier = (stateful !! GetNotifier).as[CountDownLatch]
     assert(notifier.get.await(1, TimeUnit.SECONDS))
     assert("init" === (stateful !! (GetRefState, 1000000)).get) // check that state is == init state
   }
diff --git a/akka-core/src/test/scala/ReactorBasedSingleThreadEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala b/akka-core/src/test/scala/ReactorBasedSingleThreadEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala
index 78afbe3438..996c410977 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/test/scala/ReactorBasedSingleThreadEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/test/scala/ReactorBasedSingleThreadEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import org.junit.Test
 import Actor._
 
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.dispatch.Dispatchers
-import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Helpers.narrow
 
 object ReactorBasedSingleThreadEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec {
   class TestActor extends Actor {
@@ -45,7 +44,7 @@ class ReactorBasedSingleThreadEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec extends JUnitSuite
 
   @Test def shouldSendReplySync = {
     val actor = actorOf[TestActor].start
-    val result = narrow[String](actor !! ("Hello", 10000)).get
+    val result = (actor !! ("Hello", 10000)).as[String].get
     assert("World" === result)
     actor.stop
   }
diff --git a/akka-core/src/test/scala/ReactorBasedThreadPoolEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala b/akka-core/src/test/scala/ReactorBasedThreadPoolEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala
index 94a93a9a95..b94a02a6fc 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/test/scala/ReactorBasedThreadPoolEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/test/scala/ReactorBasedThreadPoolEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec.scala
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import org.scalatest.junit.JUnitSuite
 import org.junit.Test
 
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.dispatch.Dispatchers
-import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Helpers.narrow
 import Actor._
 
 object ReactorBasedThreadPoolEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec {
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ class ReactorBasedThreadPoolEventDrivenDispatcherActorSpec extends JUnitSuite {
 
   @Test def shouldSendReplySync = {
     val actor = actorOf[TestActor].start
-    val result = narrow[String](actor !! ("Hello", 10000)).get
+    val result = (actor !! ("Hello", 10000)).as[String].get
     assert("World" === result)
     actor.stop
   }
diff --git a/akka-core/src/test/scala/StmSpec.scala b/akka-core/src/test/scala/StmSpec.scala
index dddb616c60..1544936446 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/test/scala/StmSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/test/scala/StmSpec.scala
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package se.scalablesolutions.akka.stm
 
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.actor.{Actor, Transactor}
-import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Helpers.narrow
 import Actor._
 
 import org.scalatest.Spec
@@ -89,10 +88,10 @@ class StmSpec extends
       try {
         val actor = actorOf[GlobalTransactionVectorTestActor].start
         actor !! Add(5)
-        val size1: Int = narrow(actor !! Size).getOrElse(fail("Could not get Vector::size"))
+        val size1 = (actor !! Size).as[Int].getOrElse(fail("Could not get Vector::size"))
         size1 should equal(2)
         actor !! Add(2)
-        val size2 = narrow[Int](actor !! Size).getOrElse(fail("Could not get Vector::size"))
+        val size2 = (actor !! Size).as[Int].getOrElse(fail("Could not get Vector::size"))
         size2 should equal(3)
       } catch {
         case e =>
@@ -108,18 +107,18 @@ class StmSpec extends
       try {
         val actor = actorOf[NestedTransactorLevelOneActor].start
         actor !! Add(2)
-        val size1: Int = narrow(actor !! Size).getOrElse(fail("Could not get size"))
+        val size1 = (actor !! Size).as[Int].getOrElse(fail("Could not get size"))
         size1 should equal(2)
         actor !! Add(7)
         actor ! "HiLevelOne"
-        val size2: Int = narrow(actor !! Size).getOrElse(fail("Could not get size"))
+        val size2 = (actor !! Size).as[Int].getOrElse(fail("Could not get size"))
         size2 should equal(7)
         actor !! Add(0)
         actor ! "HiLevelTwo"
-        val size3: Int = narrow(actor !! Size).getOrElse(fail("Could not get size"))
+        val size3 = (actor !! Size).as[Int].getOrElse(fail("Could not get size"))
         size3 should equal(0)
         actor !! Add(3)
-        val size4: Int = narrow(actor !! Size).getOrElse(fail("Could not get size"))
+        val size4 = (actor !! Size).as[Int].getOrElse(fail("Could not get size"))
         size4 should equal(3)
       } catch {
         case e =>
diff --git a/akka-core/src/test/scala/ThreadBasedActorSpec.scala b/akka-core/src/test/scala/ThreadBasedActorSpec.scala
index edbd1ca26d..eda6f4d52c 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/test/scala/ThreadBasedActorSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/test/scala/ThreadBasedActorSpec.scala
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import org.scalatest.junit.JUnitSuite
 import org.junit.Test
 
 import se.scalablesolutions.akka.dispatch.Dispatchers
-import se.scalablesolutions.akka.util.Helpers.narrow
 import Actor._
 
 object ThreadBasedActorSpec {
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ class ThreadBasedActorSpec extends JUnitSuite {
 
   @Test def shouldSendReplySync = {
     val actor = actorOf[TestActor].start
-    val result = narrow[String](actor !! ("Hello", 10000))
+    val result = (actor !! ("Hello", 10000)).as[String]
     assert("World" === result.get)
     actor.stop
   }