diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c146188..29335ec 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,8 +46,9 @@ impl HelloService for HelloServer {
 }
 
 fn main() {
-    let server_handle = HelloServer.spawn("0.0.0.0:0").unwrap();
-    let client = hello_service::Client::new(server_handle.local_addr()).unwrap();
+    let addr = "localhost:10000";
+    let server_handle = HelloServer.spawn(addr).unwrap();
+    let client = hello_service::Client::new(addr).unwrap();
     assert_eq!("Hello, Mom!", client.hello("Mom".into()).unwrap());
     drop(client);
     server_handle.shutdown();
@@ -56,17 +57,18 @@ fn main() {
 
 The `service!` macro expands to a collection of items that collectively form an rpc service. In the
 above example, the macro is called within the `hello_service` module. This module will contain a
-`Client` (and `AsyncClient`) type, and a `Service` trait. The trait provides `default fn`s for
-starting the service: `spawn` and `spawn_with_config`, which start the service listening on a tcp
-port. A `Client` (or `AsyncClient`) can connect to such a service. These generated types make it
-easy and ergonomic to write servers without dealing with sockets or serialization directly. See the
-tarpc_examples package for more sophisticated examples.
+`Client` (and `AsyncClient`) type, and a `Service` trait. The trait provides default `fn`s for
+starting the service: `spawn` and `spawn_with_config`, which start the service listening over an
+arbitrary transport. A `Client` (or `AsyncClient`) can connect to such a service. These generated
+types make it easy and ergonomic to write servers without dealing with sockets or serialization
+directly. See the tarpc_examples package for more sophisticated examples.
 
 ## Documentation
 Use `cargo doc` as you normally would to see the documentation created for all
 items expanded by a `service!` invocation.
 
 ## Additional Features
+- Connect over any transport that `impl`s the `Transport` trait.
 - Concurrent requests from a single client.
 - Any type that `impl`s `serde`'s `Serialize` and `Deserialize` can be used in the rpc signatures.
 - Attributes can be specified on rpc methods. These will be included on both the `Service` trait
diff --git a/tarpc/Cargo.toml b/tarpc/Cargo.toml
index 9208725..8658713 100644
--- a/tarpc/Cargo.toml
+++ b/tarpc/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@ readme = "../README.md"
 description = "An RPC framework for Rust with a focus on ease of use."
 
 [dependencies]
-bincode = "^0.5"
-log = "^0.3"
-scoped-pool = "^0.1"
-serde = "^0.7"
+bincode = "0.5"
+log = "0.3"
+scoped-pool = "0.1"
+serde = "0.7"
+unix_socket = "0.5"
 
 [dev-dependencies]
-lazy_static = "^0.1"
-env_logger = "^0.3"
+lazy_static = "0.1"
+env_logger = "0.3"
+tempdir = "0.3"
diff --git a/tarpc/src/lib.rs b/tarpc/src/lib.rs
index efb2684..dafa622 100644
--- a/tarpc/src/lib.rs
+++ b/tarpc/src/lib.rs
@@ -30,14 +30,13 @@
 //! }
 //!
 //! fn main() {
-//!     let addr = "127.0.0.1:9000";
-//!     let shutdown = Server.spawn(addr).unwrap();
-//!     let client = Client::new(addr).unwrap();
+//!     let serve_handle = Server.spawn("localhost:0").unwrap();
+//!     let client = Client::new(serve_handle.dialer()).unwrap();
 //!     assert_eq!(3, client.add(1, 2).unwrap());
 //!     assert_eq!("Hello, Mom!".to_string(),
 //!                client.hello("Mom".to_string()).unwrap());
 //!     drop(client);
-//!     shutdown.shutdown();
+//!     serve_handle.shutdown();
 //! }
 //! ```
 
@@ -48,6 +47,7 @@ extern crate bincode;
 #[macro_use]
 extern crate log;
 extern crate scoped_pool;
+extern crate unix_socket;
 
 macro_rules! pos {
     () => (concat!(file!(), ":", line!()))
@@ -60,4 +60,7 @@ pub mod protocol;
 /// Provides the macro used for constructing rpc services and client stubs.
 pub mod macros;
 
+/// Provides transport traits and implementations.
+pub mod transport;
+
 pub use protocol::{Config, Error, Result, ServeHandle};
diff --git a/tarpc/src/macros.rs b/tarpc/src/macros.rs
index e4510fa..d34f054 100644
--- a/tarpc/src/macros.rs
+++ b/tarpc/src/macros.rs
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ macro_rules! service {
 #[doc(hidden)]
 #[macro_export]
 macro_rules! service_inner {
-    // Pattern for when the next rpc has an implicit unit return type
+// Pattern for when the next rpc has an implicit unit return type
     (
         {
             $(#[$attr:meta])*
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ macro_rules! service_inner {
             rpc $fn_name( $( $arg : $in_ ),* ) -> ();
         }
     };
-    // Pattern for when the next rpc has an explicit return type
+// Pattern for when the next rpc has an explicit return type
     (
         {
             $(#[$attr:meta])*
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ macro_rules! service_inner {
             rpc $fn_name( $( $arg : $in_ ),* ) -> $out;
         }
     };
-    // Pattern when all return types have been expanded
+// Pattern when all return types have been expanded
     (
         { } // none left to expand
         $(
@@ -316,21 +316,30 @@ macro_rules! service_inner {
             )*
 
             #[doc="Spawn a running service."]
-            fn spawn<A>(self, addr: A) -> $crate::Result<$crate::protocol::ServeHandle>
-                where A: ::std::net::ToSocketAddrs,
+            fn spawn<T>(self,
+                        transport: T)
+                        -> $crate::Result<
+                            $crate::protocol::ServeHandle<
+                            <T::Listener as $crate::transport::Listener>::Dialer>>
+                where T: $crate::transport::Transport,
                       Self: 'static,
             {
-                self.spawn_with_config(addr, $crate::Config::default())
+                self.spawn_with_config(transport, $crate::Config::default())
             }
 
             #[doc="Spawn a running service."]
-            fn spawn_with_config<A>(self, addr: A, config: $crate::Config)
-                -> $crate::Result<$crate::protocol::ServeHandle>
-                where A: ::std::net::ToSocketAddrs,
+            fn spawn_with_config<T>(self,
+                                    transport: T,
+                                    config: $crate::Config)
+                                    -> $crate::Result<
+                                        $crate::protocol::ServeHandle<
+                                        <T::Listener as $crate::transport::Listener>::Dialer>>
+                where T: $crate::transport::Transport,
                       Self: 'static,
             {
-                let server = ::std::sync::Arc::new(__Server(self));
-                let handle = try!($crate::protocol::Serve::spawn_with_config(server, addr, config));
+                let server = __Server(self);
+                let result = $crate::protocol::Serve::spawn_with_config(server, transport, config);
+                let handle = try!(result);
                 ::std::result::Result::Ok(handle)
             }
         }
@@ -386,25 +395,29 @@ macro_rules! service_inner {
 
         #[allow(unused)]
         #[doc="The client stub that makes RPC calls to the server."]
-        pub struct Client($crate::protocol::Client<__Request, __Reply>);
+        pub struct Client<S = ::std::net::TcpStream>(
+            $crate::protocol::Client<__Request, __Reply, S>
+        ) where S: $crate::transport::Stream;
 
-        impl Client {
+        impl<S> Client<S>
+            where S: $crate::transport::Stream
+        {
             #[allow(unused)]
             #[doc="Create a new client with default configuration that connects to the given \
                    address."]
-            pub fn new<A>(addr: A) -> $crate::Result<Self>
-                where A: ::std::net::ToSocketAddrs,
+            pub fn new<D>(dialer: D) -> $crate::Result<Self>
+                where D: $crate::transport::Dialer<Stream=S>,
             {
-                Self::with_config(addr, $crate::Config::default())
+                Self::with_config(dialer, $crate::Config::default())
             }
 
             #[allow(unused)]
             #[doc="Create a new client with the specified configuration that connects to the \
                    given address."]
-            pub fn with_config<A>(addr: A, config: $crate::Config) -> $crate::Result<Self>
-                where A: ::std::net::ToSocketAddrs,
+            pub fn with_config<D>(dialer: D, config: $crate::Config) -> $crate::Result<Self>
+                where D: $crate::transport::Dialer<Stream=S>,
             {
-                let inner = try!($crate::protocol::Client::with_config(addr, config));
+                let inner = try!($crate::protocol::Client::with_config(dialer, config));
                 ::std::result::Result::Ok(Client(inner))
             }
 
@@ -425,25 +438,27 @@ macro_rules! service_inner {
 
         #[allow(unused)]
         #[doc="The client stub that makes asynchronous RPC calls to the server."]
-        pub struct AsyncClient($crate::protocol::Client<__Request, __Reply>);
+        pub struct AsyncClient<S = ::std::net::TcpStream>(
+            $crate::protocol::Client<__Request, __Reply, S>
+        ) where S: $crate::transport::Stream;
 
-        impl AsyncClient {
+        impl<S> AsyncClient<S>
+            where S: $crate::transport::Stream {
             #[allow(unused)]
             #[doc="Create a new asynchronous client with default configuration that connects to \
                    the given address."]
-            pub fn new<A>(addr: A) -> $crate::Result<Self>
-                where A: ::std::net::ToSocketAddrs,
+            pub fn new<D>(dialer: D) -> $crate::Result<Self>
+                where D: $crate::transport::Dialer<Stream=S>,
             {
-                Self::with_config(addr, $crate::Config::default())
+                Self::with_config(dialer, $crate::Config::default())
             }
 
             #[allow(unused)]
             #[doc="Create a new asynchronous client that connects to the given address."]
-            pub fn with_config<A>(addr: A, config: $crate::Config)
-                -> $crate::Result<Self>
-                where A: ::std::net::ToSocketAddrs,
+            pub fn with_config<D>(dialer: D, config: $crate::Config) -> $crate::Result<Self>
+                where D: $crate::transport::Dialer<Stream=S>,
             {
-                let inner = try!($crate::protocol::Client::with_config(addr, config));
+                let inner = try!($crate::protocol::Client::with_config(dialer, config));
                 ::std::result::Result::Ok(AsyncClient(inner))
             }
 
@@ -463,7 +478,8 @@ macro_rules! service_inner {
         }
 
         #[allow(unused)]
-        struct __Server<S: 'static + Service>(S);
+        struct __Server<S>(S)
+            where S: 'static + Service;
 
         impl<S> $crate::protocol::Serve for __Server<S>
             where S: 'static + Service
@@ -513,6 +529,8 @@ mod syntax_test {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod functional_test {
     extern crate env_logger;
+    extern crate tempdir;
+    use transport::unix::UnixTransport;
 
     service! {
         rpc add(x: i32, y: i32) -> i32;
@@ -534,7 +552,7 @@ mod functional_test {
     fn simple() {
         let _ = env_logger::init();
         let handle = Server.spawn("localhost:0").unwrap();
-        let client = Client::new(handle.local_addr()).unwrap();
+        let client = Client::new(handle.dialer()).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(3, client.add(1, 2).unwrap());
         assert_eq!("Hey, Tim.", client.hey("Tim".into()).unwrap());
         drop(client);
@@ -545,7 +563,7 @@ mod functional_test {
     fn simple_async() {
         let _ = env_logger::init();
         let handle = Server.spawn("localhost:0").unwrap();
-        let client = AsyncClient::new(handle.local_addr()).unwrap();
+        let client = AsyncClient::new(handle.dialer()).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(3, client.add(1, 2).get().unwrap());
         assert_eq!("Hey, Adam.", client.hey("Adam".into()).get().unwrap());
         drop(client);
@@ -555,7 +573,7 @@ mod functional_test {
     #[test]
     fn try_clone() {
         let handle = Server.spawn("localhost:0").unwrap();
-        let client1 = Client::new(handle.local_addr()).unwrap();
+        let client1 = Client::new(handle.dialer()).unwrap();
         let client2 = client1.try_clone().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(3, client1.add(1, 2).unwrap());
         assert_eq!(3, client2.add(1, 2).unwrap());
@@ -564,7 +582,19 @@ mod functional_test {
     #[test]
     fn async_try_clone() {
         let handle = Server.spawn("localhost:0").unwrap();
-        let client1 = AsyncClient::new(handle.local_addr()).unwrap();
+        let client1 = AsyncClient::new(handle.dialer()).unwrap();
+        let client2 = client1.try_clone().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(3, client1.add(1, 2).get().unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(3, client2.add(1, 2).get().unwrap());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn async_try_clone_unix() {
+        let temp_dir = tempdir::TempDir::new("tarpc").unwrap();
+        let temp_file = temp_dir.path()
+                                .join("async_try_clone_unix.tmp");
+        let handle = Server.spawn(UnixTransport(temp_file)).unwrap();
+        let client1 = AsyncClient::new(handle.dialer()).unwrap();
         let client2 = client1.try_clone().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(3, client1.add(1, 2).get().unwrap());
         assert_eq!(3, client2.add(1, 2).get().unwrap());
@@ -576,6 +606,12 @@ mod functional_test {
         let _ = ::std::sync::Arc::new(Server).spawn("localhost:0");
     }
 
+    // Tests that a tcp client can be created from &str
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    fn test_client_str() {
+        let _ = Client::new("localhost:0");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn serde() {
         use bincode;
diff --git a/tarpc/src/protocol/client.rs b/tarpc/src/protocol/client.rs
index edb0d36..dd2ed56 100644
--- a/tarpc/src/protocol/client.rs
+++ b/tarpc/src/protocol/client.rs
@@ -8,38 +8,44 @@ use std::fmt;
 use std::io::{self, BufReader, BufWriter, Read};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::mem;
-use std::net::{TcpStream, ToSocketAddrs};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver, Sender, channel};
 use std::thread;
 
 use super::{Config, Deserialize, Error, Packet, Result, Serialize};
+use transport::{Dialer, Stream};
 
 /// A client stub that connects to a server to run rpcs.
-pub struct Client<Request, Reply>
-    where Request: serde::ser::Serialize
+pub struct Client<Request, Reply, S>
+    where Request: serde::ser::Serialize,
+          S: Stream
 {
     // The guard is in an option so it can be joined in the drop fn
     reader_guard: Arc<Option<thread::JoinHandle<()>>>,
     outbound: Sender<(Request, Sender<Result<Reply>>)>,
     requests: Arc<Mutex<RpcFutures<Reply>>>,
-    shutdown: TcpStream,
+    shutdown: S,
 }
 
-impl<Request, Reply> Client<Request, Reply>
+impl<Request, Reply, S> Client<Request, Reply, S>
     where Request: serde::ser::Serialize + Send + 'static,
-          Reply: serde::de::Deserialize + Send + 'static
+          Reply: serde::de::Deserialize + Send + 'static,
+          S: Stream
 {
     /// Create a new client that connects to `addr`. The client uses the given timeout
     /// for both reads and writes.
-    pub fn new<A: ToSocketAddrs>(addr: A) -> io::Result<Self> {
-        Self::with_config(addr, Config::default())
+    pub fn new<D>(dialer: D) -> io::Result<Self>
+        where D: Dialer<Stream = S>
+    {
+        Self::with_config(dialer, Config::default())
     }
 
     /// Create a new client that connects to `addr`. The client uses the given timeout
     /// for both reads and writes.
-    pub fn with_config<A: ToSocketAddrs>(addr: A, config: Config) -> io::Result<Self> {
-        let stream = try!(TcpStream::connect(addr));
+    pub fn with_config<D>(dialer: D, config: Config) -> io::Result<Self>
+        where D: Dialer<Stream = S>
+    {
+        let stream = try!(dialer.dial());
         try!(stream.set_read_timeout(config.timeout));
         try!(stream.set_write_timeout(config.timeout));
         let reader_stream = try!(stream.try_clone());
@@ -59,7 +65,7 @@ impl<Request, Reply> Client<Request, Reply>
     }
 
     /// Clones the Client so that it can be shared across threads.
-    pub fn try_clone(&self) -> io::Result<Client<Request, Reply>> {
+    pub fn try_clone(&self) -> io::Result<Self> {
         Ok(Client {
             reader_guard: self.reader_guard.clone(),
             outbound: self.outbound.clone(),
@@ -97,14 +103,15 @@ impl<Request, Reply> Client<Request, Reply>
     }
 }
 
-impl<Request, Reply> Drop for Client<Request, Reply>
-    where Request: serde::ser::Serialize
+impl<Request, Reply, S> Drop for Client<Request, Reply, S>
+    where Request: serde::ser::Serialize,
+          S: Stream
 {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         debug!("Dropping Client.");
         if let Some(reader_guard) = Arc::get_mut(&mut self.reader_guard) {
             debug!("Attempting to shut down writer and reader threads.");
-            if let Err(e) = self.shutdown.shutdown(::std::net::Shutdown::Both) {
+            if let Err(e) = self.shutdown.shutdown() {
                 warn!("Client: couldn't shutdown writer and reader threads: {:?}",
                       e);
             } else {
@@ -185,11 +192,12 @@ impl<Reply> RpcFutures<Reply> {
     }
 }
 
-fn write<Request, Reply>(outbound: Receiver<(Request, Sender<Result<Reply>>)>,
-                         requests: Arc<Mutex<RpcFutures<Reply>>>,
-                         stream: TcpStream)
+fn write<Request, Reply, S>(outbound: Receiver<(Request, Sender<Result<Reply>>)>,
+                            requests: Arc<Mutex<RpcFutures<Reply>>>,
+                            stream: S)
     where Request: serde::Serialize,
-          Reply: serde::Deserialize
+          Reply: serde::Deserialize,
+          S: Stream
 {
     let mut next_id = 0;
     let mut stream = BufWriter::new(stream);
@@ -238,8 +246,9 @@ fn write<Request, Reply>(outbound: Receiver<(Request, Sender<Result<Reply>>)>,
 
 }
 
-fn read<Reply>(requests: Arc<Mutex<RpcFutures<Reply>>>, stream: TcpStream)
-    where Reply: serde::Deserialize
+fn read<Reply, S>(requests: Arc<Mutex<RpcFutures<Reply>>>, stream: S)
+    where Reply: serde::Deserialize,
+          S: Stream
 {
     let mut stream = BufReader::new(stream);
     loop {
diff --git a/tarpc/src/protocol/mod.rs b/tarpc/src/protocol/mod.rs
index c7e2132..3a7b2fd 100644
--- a/tarpc/src/protocol/mod.rs
+++ b/tarpc/src/protocol/mod.rs
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ mod test {
     extern crate env_logger;
     use super::{Client, Config, Serve};
     use scoped_pool::Pool;
+    use std::net::TcpStream;
     use std::sync::{Arc, Barrier, Mutex};
     use std::thread;
     use std::time::Duration;
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ mod test {
         let _ = env_logger::init();
         let server = Arc::new(Server::new());
         let serve_handle = server.spawn("localhost:0").unwrap();
-        let client: Client<(), u64> = Client::new(serve_handle.local_addr()).unwrap();
+        let client: Client<(), u64, TcpStream> = Client::new(serve_handle.dialer()).unwrap();
         drop(client);
         serve_handle.shutdown();
     }
@@ -142,9 +143,8 @@ mod test {
         let _ = env_logger::init();
         let server = Arc::new(Server::new());
         let serve_handle = server.clone().spawn("localhost:0").unwrap();
-        let addr = serve_handle.local_addr().clone();
         // The explicit type is required so that it doesn't deserialize a u32 instead of u64
-        let client: Client<(), u64> = Client::new(addr).unwrap();
+        let client: Client<(), u64, _> = Client::new(serve_handle.dialer()).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(0, client.rpc(()).unwrap());
         assert_eq!(1, server.count());
         assert_eq!(1, client.rpc(()).unwrap());
@@ -187,8 +187,7 @@ mod test {
         let serve_handle = server.spawn_with_config("localhost:0",
                                                     Config { timeout: Some(Duration::new(0, 10)) })
                                  .unwrap();
-        let addr = serve_handle.local_addr().clone();
-        let client: Client<(), u64> = Client::new(addr).unwrap();
+        let client: Client<(), u64, _> = Client::new(serve_handle.dialer()).unwrap();
         let thread = thread::spawn(move || serve_handle.shutdown());
         info!("force_shutdown:: rpc1: {:?}", client.rpc(()));
         thread.join().unwrap();
@@ -201,8 +200,7 @@ mod test {
         let serve_handle = server.spawn_with_config("localhost:0",
                                                     Config { timeout: test_timeout() })
                                  .unwrap();
-        let addr = serve_handle.local_addr().clone();
-        let client: Arc<Client<(), u64>> = Arc::new(Client::new(addr).unwrap());
+        let client: Arc<Client<(), u64, _>> = Arc::new(Client::new(serve_handle.dialer()).unwrap());
         client.rpc(()).unwrap();
         serve_handle.shutdown();
         match client.rpc(()) {
@@ -219,8 +217,7 @@ mod test {
         let pool = Pool::new(concurrency);
         let server = Arc::new(BarrierServer::new(concurrency));
         let serve_handle = server.clone().spawn("localhost:0").unwrap();
-        let addr = serve_handle.local_addr().clone();
-        let client: Client<(), u64> = Client::new(addr).unwrap();
+        let client: Client<(), u64, _> = Client::new(serve_handle.dialer()).unwrap();
         pool.scoped(|scope| {
             for _ in 0..concurrency {
                 let client = client.try_clone().unwrap();
@@ -239,8 +236,7 @@ mod test {
         let _ = env_logger::init();
         let server = Arc::new(Server::new());
         let serve_handle = server.spawn("localhost:0").unwrap();
-        let addr = serve_handle.local_addr().clone();
-        let client: Client<(), u64> = Client::new(addr).unwrap();
+        let client: Client<(), u64, _> = Client::new(serve_handle.dialer()).unwrap();
 
         // Drop future immediately; does the reader channel panic when sending?
         client.rpc_async(());
diff --git a/tarpc/src/protocol/server.rs b/tarpc/src/protocol/server.rs
index 69149d0..f635145 100644
--- a/tarpc/src/protocol/server.rs
+++ b/tarpc/src/protocol/server.rs
@@ -7,24 +7,27 @@ use serde;
 use scoped_pool::{Pool, Scope};
 use std::fmt;
 use std::io::{self, BufReader, BufWriter};
-use std::net::{SocketAddr, TcpListener, TcpStream, ToSocketAddrs};
 use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver, Sender, TryRecvError, channel};
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 use std::time::Duration;
 use std::thread::{self, JoinHandle};
 use super::{Config, Deserialize, Error, Packet, Result, Serialize};
+use transport::{Dialer, Listener, Stream, Transport};
+use transport::tcp::TcpDialer;
 
-struct ConnectionHandler<'a, S>
-    where S: Serve
+struct ConnectionHandler<'a, S, St>
+    where S: Serve,
+          St: Stream
 {
-    read_stream: BufReader<TcpStream>,
-    write_stream: BufWriter<TcpStream>,
+    read_stream: BufReader<St>,
+    write_stream: BufWriter<St>,
     server: S,
     shutdown: &'a AtomicBool,
 }
 
-impl<'a, S> ConnectionHandler<'a, S>
-    where S: Serve
+impl<'a, S, St> ConnectionHandler<'a, S, St>
+    where S: Serve,
+          St: Stream
 {
     fn handle_conn<'b>(&'b mut self, scope: &Scope<'b>) -> Result<()> {
         let ConnectionHandler {
@@ -83,7 +86,7 @@ impl<'a, S> ConnectionHandler<'a, S>
         }
     }
 
-    fn write(rx: Receiver<Packet<<S as Serve>::Reply>>, stream: &mut BufWriter<TcpStream>) {
+    fn write(rx: Receiver<Packet<<S as Serve>::Reply>>, stream: &mut BufWriter<St>) {
         loop {
             match rx.recv() {
                 Err(e) => {
@@ -101,21 +104,25 @@ impl<'a, S> ConnectionHandler<'a, S>
 }
 
 /// Provides methods for blocking until the server completes,
-pub struct ServeHandle {
+pub struct ServeHandle<D = TcpDialer>
+    where D: Dialer
+{
     tx: Sender<()>,
     join_handle: JoinHandle<()>,
-    addr: SocketAddr,
+    dialer: D,
 }
 
-impl ServeHandle {
+impl<D> ServeHandle<D>
+    where D: Dialer
+{
     /// Block until the server completes
     pub fn wait(self) {
         self.join_handle.join().expect(pos!());
     }
 
-    /// Returns the address the server is bound to
-    pub fn local_addr(&self) -> &SocketAddr {
-        &self.addr
+    /// Returns the dialer to the server.
+    pub fn dialer(&self) -> &D {
+        &self.dialer
     }
 
     /// Shutdown the server. Gracefully shuts down the serve thread but currently does not
@@ -123,7 +130,7 @@ impl ServeHandle {
     pub fn shutdown(self) {
         info!("ServeHandle: attempting to shut down the server.");
         self.tx.send(()).expect(pos!());
-        if let Ok(_) = TcpStream::connect(self.addr) {
+        if let Ok(_) = self.dialer.dial() {
             self.join_handle.join().expect(pos!());
         } else {
             warn!("ServeHandle: best effort shutdown of serve thread failed");
@@ -131,16 +138,19 @@ impl ServeHandle {
     }
 }
 
-struct Server<'a, S: 'a> {
+struct Server<'a, S: 'a, L>
+    where L: Listener
+{
     server: &'a S,
-    listener: TcpListener,
+    listener: L,
     read_timeout: Option<Duration>,
     die_rx: Receiver<()>,
     shutdown: &'a AtomicBool,
 }
 
-impl<'a, S: 'a> Server<'a, S>
-    where S: Serve + 'static
+impl<'a, S, L> Server<'a, S, L>
+    where S: Serve + 'static,
+          L: Listener
 {
     fn serve<'b>(self, scope: &Scope<'b>)
         where 'a: 'b
@@ -194,7 +204,9 @@ impl<'a, S: 'a> Server<'a, S>
     }
 }
 
-impl<'a, S> Drop for Server<'a, S> {
+impl<'a, S, L> Drop for Server<'a, S, L>
+    where L: Listener
+{
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         debug!("Shutting down connection handlers.");
         self.shutdown.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
@@ -212,29 +224,33 @@ pub trait Serve: Send + Sync + Sized {
     fn serve(&self, request: Self::Request) -> Self::Reply;
 
     /// spawn
-    fn spawn<A>(self, addr: A) -> io::Result<ServeHandle>
-        where A: ToSocketAddrs,
+    fn spawn<T>(self, transport: T) -> io::Result<ServeHandle<<T::Listener as Listener>::Dialer>>
+        where T: Transport,
               Self: 'static
     {
-        self.spawn_with_config(addr, Config::default())
+        self.spawn_with_config(transport, Config::default())
     }
 
     /// spawn
-    fn spawn_with_config<A>(self, addr: A, config: Config) -> io::Result<ServeHandle>
-        where A: ToSocketAddrs,
+    fn spawn_with_config<T>(self,
+                            transport: T,
+                            config: Config)
+                            -> io::Result<ServeHandle<<T::Listener as Listener>::Dialer>>
+        where T: Transport,
               Self: 'static
     {
-        let listener = try!(TcpListener::bind(&addr));
-        let addr = try!(listener.local_addr());
-        info!("spawn_with_config: spinning up server on {:?}", addr);
+        let listener = try!(transport.bind());
+        let dialer = try!(listener.dialer());
+        info!("spawn_with_config: spinning up server.");
         let (die_tx, die_rx) = channel();
+        let timeout = config.timeout;
         let join_handle = thread::spawn(move || {
             let pool = Pool::new(100); // TODO(tjk): make this configurable, and expire idle threads
             let shutdown = AtomicBool::new(false);
             let server = Server {
                 server: &self,
                 listener: listener,
-                read_timeout: config.timeout,
+                read_timeout: timeout,
                 die_rx: die_rx,
                 shutdown: &shutdown,
             };
@@ -245,7 +261,7 @@ pub trait Serve: Send + Sync + Sized {
         Ok(ServeHandle {
             tx: die_tx,
             join_handle: join_handle,
-            addr: addr.clone(),
+            dialer: dialer,
         })
     }
 
diff --git a/tarpc/src/transport/mod.rs b/tarpc/src/transport/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f70b2bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tarpc/src/transport/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+use std::io::{self, Read, Write};
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+/// A factory for creating a listener on a given address.
+/// For TCP, an address might be an IPv4 address; for Unix sockets, it
+/// is just a file name.
+pub trait Transport {
+    /// The type of listener that binds to the given address.
+    type Listener: Listener;
+    /// Return a listener on the given address, and a dialer to that address.
+    fn bind(&self) -> io::Result<Self::Listener>;
+}
+
+/// Accepts incoming connections from dialers.
+pub trait Listener: Send + 'static {
+    /// The type of address being listened on.
+    type Dialer: Dialer;
+    /// The type of stream this listener accepts.
+    type Stream: Stream;
+    /// Accept an incoming stream.
+    fn accept(&self) -> io::Result<Self::Stream>;
+    /// Returns the local address being listened on.
+    fn dialer(&self) -> io::Result<Self::Dialer>;
+    /// Iterate over incoming connections.
+    fn incoming(&self) -> Incoming<Self> {
+        Incoming { listener: self }
+    }
+}
+
+/// A cloneable Reader/Writer.
+pub trait Stream: Read + Write + Send + Sized + 'static {
+    /// Creates a new independently owned handle to the Stream.
+    ///
+    /// The returned Stream should reference the same stream that this
+    /// object references. Both handles should read and write the same
+    /// stream of data, and options set on one stream should be propagated
+    /// to the other stream.
+    fn try_clone(&self) -> io::Result<Self>;
+    /// Sets a read timeout.
+    ///
+    /// If the value specified is `None`, then read calls will block indefinitely.
+    /// It is an error to pass the zero `Duration` to this method.
+    fn set_read_timeout(&self, dur: Option<Duration>) -> io::Result<()>;
+    /// Sets a write timeout.
+    ///
+    /// If the value specified is `None`, then write calls will block indefinitely.
+    /// It is an error to pass the zero `Duration` to this method.
+    fn set_write_timeout(&self, dur: Option<Duration>) -> io::Result<()>;
+    /// Shuts down both ends of the stream.
+    ///
+    /// Implementations should cause all pending and future I/O on the specified
+    /// portions to return immediately with an appropriate value.
+    fn shutdown(&self) -> io::Result<()>;
+}
+
+/// A `Stream` factory.
+pub trait Dialer {
+    /// The type of `Stream` this can create.
+    type Stream: Stream;
+    /// Open a stream.
+    fn dial(&self) -> io::Result<Self::Stream>;
+}
+
+impl<P, D: ?Sized> Dialer for P
+    where P: ::std::ops::Deref<Target = D>,
+          D: Dialer + 'static
+{
+    type Stream = D::Stream;
+
+    fn dial(&self) -> io::Result<Self::Stream> {
+        (**self).dial()
+    }
+}
+
+/// Iterates over incoming connections.
+pub struct Incoming<'a, L: Listener + ?Sized + 'a> {
+    listener: &'a L,
+}
+
+impl<'a, L: Listener> Iterator for Incoming<'a, L> {
+    type Item = io::Result<L::Stream>;
+
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
+        Some(self.listener.accept())
+    }
+}
+
+/// Provides a TCP transport.
+pub mod tcp;
+/// Provides a unix socket transport.
+pub mod unix;
diff --git a/tarpc/src/transport/tcp.rs b/tarpc/src/transport/tcp.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a78b65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tarpc/src/transport/tcp.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+use std::io;
+use std::net::{SocketAddr, TcpListener, TcpStream, ToSocketAddrs};
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+/// A transport for TCP.
+pub struct TcpTransport<A: ToSocketAddrs>(pub A);
+
+impl<A: ToSocketAddrs> super::Transport for TcpTransport<A> {
+    type Listener = TcpListener;
+
+    fn bind(&self) -> io::Result<TcpListener> {
+        TcpListener::bind(&self.0)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<A: ToSocketAddrs> super::Transport for A {
+    type Listener = TcpListener;
+
+    fn bind(&self) -> io::Result<TcpListener> {
+        TcpListener::bind(self)
+    }
+}
+
+impl super::Listener for TcpListener {
+    type Dialer = TcpDialer<SocketAddr>;
+
+    type Stream = TcpStream;
+
+    fn accept(&self) -> io::Result<TcpStream> {
+        self.accept().map(|(stream, _)| stream)
+    }
+
+    fn dialer(&self) -> io::Result<TcpDialer<SocketAddr>> {
+        self.local_addr().map(|addr| TcpDialer(addr))
+    }
+}
+
+impl super::Stream for TcpStream {
+    fn try_clone(&self) -> io::Result<Self> {
+        self.try_clone()
+    }
+
+    fn set_read_timeout(&self, dur: Option<Duration>) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.set_read_timeout(dur)
+    }
+
+    fn set_write_timeout(&self, dur: Option<Duration>) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.set_write_timeout(dur)
+    }
+
+    fn shutdown(&self) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.shutdown(::std::net::Shutdown::Both)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Connects to a socket address.
+pub struct TcpDialer<A = SocketAddr>(pub A) where A: ToSocketAddrs;
+
+impl<A> super::Dialer for TcpDialer<A>
+    where A: ToSocketAddrs
+{
+    type Stream = TcpStream;
+
+    fn dial(&self) -> io::Result<TcpStream> {
+        TcpStream::connect(&self.0)
+    }
+}
+
+impl super::Dialer for str {
+    type Stream = TcpStream;
+
+    fn dial(&self) -> io::Result<TcpStream> {
+        TcpStream::connect(self)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tarpc/src/transport/unix.rs b/tarpc/src/transport/unix.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a4b590
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tarpc/src/transport/unix.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+use std::io;
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+use std::time::Duration;
+use unix_socket::{UnixListener, UnixStream};
+
+/// A transport for unix sockets.
+pub struct UnixTransport<P>(pub P) where P: AsRef<Path>;
+
+impl<P> super::Transport for UnixTransport<P>
+    where P: AsRef<Path>
+{
+    type Listener = UnixListener;
+
+    fn bind(&self) -> io::Result<UnixListener> {
+        UnixListener::bind(&self.0)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Connects to a unix socket address.
+pub struct UnixDialer<P>(pub P) where P: AsRef<Path>;
+
+impl<P> super::Dialer for UnixDialer<P>
+    where P: AsRef<Path>
+{
+    type Stream = UnixStream;
+
+    fn dial(&self) -> io::Result<UnixStream> {
+        UnixStream::connect(&self.0)
+    }
+}
+
+impl super::Listener for UnixListener {
+    type Stream = UnixStream;
+
+    type Dialer = UnixDialer<PathBuf>;
+
+    fn accept(&self) -> io::Result<UnixStream> {
+        self.accept().map(|(stream, _)| stream)
+    }
+
+    fn dialer(&self) -> io::Result<UnixDialer<PathBuf>> {
+        self.local_addr().and_then(|addr| {
+            match addr.as_pathname() {
+                Some(path) => Ok(UnixDialer(path.to_owned())),
+                None => {
+                    Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::AddrNotAvailable,
+                                       "Couldn't get a path to bound unix socket"))
+                }
+            }
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl super::Stream for UnixStream {
+    fn try_clone(&self) -> io::Result<Self> {
+        self.try_clone()
+    }
+
+    fn set_read_timeout(&self, timeout: Option<Duration>) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.set_read_timeout(timeout)
+    }
+
+    fn set_write_timeout(&self, timeout: Option<Duration>) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.set_write_timeout(timeout)
+    }
+
+    fn shutdown(&self) -> io::Result<()> {
+        self.shutdown(::std::net::Shutdown::Both)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tarpc_examples/src/lib.rs b/tarpc_examples/src/lib.rs
index 9842c57..72bf45a 100644
--- a/tarpc_examples/src/lib.rs
+++ b/tarpc_examples/src/lib.rs
@@ -41,8 +41,9 @@ mod benchmark {
             Arc::new(Mutex::new(handle))
         };
         static ref CLIENT: Arc<Mutex<AsyncClient>> = {
-            let addr = HANDLE.lock().unwrap().local_addr().clone();
-            let client = AsyncClient::new(addr).unwrap();
+            let lock = HANDLE.lock().unwrap();
+            let dialer = lock.dialer();
+            let client = AsyncClient::new(dialer).unwrap();
             Arc::new(Mutex::new(client))
         };
     }