diff --git a/headers/os/locale/MessageFormat.h b/headers/os/locale/MessageFormat.h
index ff2a9c2d84..21b447245c 100644
--- a/headers/os/locale/MessageFormat.h
+++ b/headers/os/locale/MessageFormat.h
@@ -9,10 +9,32 @@
 #include <Format.h>
 
 
+namespace icu {
+	class MessageFormat;
+	class UnicodeString;
+}
+
+
 class BMessageFormat: public BFormat {
 public:
-			status_t			Format(BString& buffer, const BString message,
-									const int32 arg);
+								BMessageFormat(const BString pattern);
+								~BMessageFormat();
+
+			status_t			InitCheck();
+
+			status_t			SetLanguage(const BLanguage& newLanguage);
+			status_t			SetFormattingConventions(
+									const BFormattingConventions&
+										conventions);
+
+			status_t			Format(BString& buffer, const int32 arg) const;
+
+private:
+			status_t			_Initialize(const icu::UnicodeString&);
+
+private:
+			status_t			fInitStatus;
+			icu::MessageFormat*	fFormatter;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/add-ons/mail_daemon/inbound_filters/notifier/filter.cpp b/src/add-ons/mail_daemon/inbound_filters/notifier/filter.cpp
index 1ad15ebb53..e79b0fd9bc 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/mail_daemon/inbound_filters/notifier/filter.cpp
+++ b/src/add-ons/mail_daemon/inbound_filters/notifier/filter.cpp
@@ -68,11 +68,12 @@ NotifyFilter::MailboxSynced(status_t status)
 		system_beep("New E-mail");
 
 	if (fStrategy & alert) {
-		BString text;
-		BMessageFormat().Format(text, B_TRANSLATE(
+		static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE(
 			"You have {0, plural, one{# new message} other{# new messages}} "
-			"for %account."), fNNewMessages);
+			"for %account."));
 
+		BString text;
+		format.Format(text, fNNewMessages);
 		text.ReplaceFirst("%account", fMailProtocol.AccountSettings().Name());
 
 		BAlert *alert = new BAlert(B_TRANSLATE("New messages"), text.String(),
@@ -97,11 +98,11 @@ NotifyFilter::MailboxSynced(status_t status)
 	}
 
 	if (fStrategy & log_window) {
-		BString message;
-		BMessageFormat().Format(message, B_TRANSLATE(
-			"{0, plural, one{# new message} other{# new messages}}"),
-			fNNewMessages);
+		static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE("{0, plural, "
+			"one{# new message} other{# new messages}}"));
 
+		BString message;
+		format.Format(message, fNNewMessages);
 		fMailProtocol.ShowMessage(message.String());
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/apps/aboutsystem/AboutSystem.cpp b/src/apps/aboutsystem/AboutSystem.cpp
index d1d284e1d8..736a6c215e 100644
--- a/src/apps/aboutsystem/AboutSystem.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/aboutsystem/AboutSystem.cpp
@@ -443,10 +443,12 @@ AboutView::AboutView()
 		B_ALIGN_VERTICAL_UNSET));
 
 	// CPU count, type and clock speed
-	BString processorLabel;
-	BMessageFormat().Format(processorLabel, B_TRANSLATE_COMMENT(
+	static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE_COMMENT(
 		"{0, plural, one{Processor:} other{# Processors:}}",
-		"\"Processor:\" or \"2 Processors:\""), systemInfo.cpu_count);
+		"\"Processor:\" or \"2 Processors:\""));
+
+	BString processorLabel;
+	format.Format(processorLabel, systemInfo.cpu_count);
 
 	uint32 topologyNodeCount = 0;
 	cpu_topology_node_info* topology = NULL;
diff --git a/src/apps/diskusage/StatusView.cpp b/src/apps/diskusage/StatusView.cpp
index 734d8b3de2..586c72a261 100644
--- a/src/apps/diskusage/StatusView.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/diskusage/StatusView.cpp
@@ -151,9 +151,10 @@ StatusView::ShowInfo(const FileInfo* info)
 	fSizeView->SetText(label);
 
 	if (info->count > 0) {
+		static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE("{0, plural, "
+			"one{# file}, other{# files}}"));
 		BString label;
-		BMessageFormat().Format(label, B_TRANSLATE("{0, plural, one{# file}, "
-			"other{# files}}"), info->count);
+		format.Format(label, info->count);
 		fCountView->SetText(label);
 	} else {
 		fCountView->SetText(kEmptyStr);
diff --git a/src/apps/haikudepot/ui/PackageListView.cpp b/src/apps/haikudepot/ui/PackageListView.cpp
index 4496492dc0..5a04e23624 100644
--- a/src/apps/haikudepot/ui/PackageListView.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/haikudepot/ui/PackageListView.cpp
@@ -609,9 +609,11 @@ public:
 private:
 	BString _GetLabel() const
 	{
+		static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE("{0, plural, "
+			"one{# item} other{# items}}"));
+
 		BString label;
-		BMessageFormat().Format(label, B_TRANSLATE("{0, plural, one{# item} "
-			"other{# items}}"), fItemCount);
+		format.Format(label, fItemCount);
 		return label;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/apps/magnify/Magnify.cpp b/src/apps/magnify/Magnify.cpp
index 9e9599de31..7dfa1af79c 100644
--- a/src/apps/magnify/Magnify.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/magnify/Magnify.cpp
@@ -829,16 +829,19 @@ TInfoView::Draw(BRect updateRect)
 
 	MovePenTo(10, fFontHeight + 5);
 
+	static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE("%width x %height  @ {0, plural, "
+		"one{# pixel/pixel} other{# pixels/pixel}}"));
+
 	BString dimensionsInfo;
-	BMessageFormat().Format(dimensionsInfo,
-		B_TRANSLATE("%width x %height  @ {0, plural, one{# pixel/pixel} "
-			"other{# pixels/pixel}}"), pixelSize);
+	format.Format(dimensionsInfo, pixelSize);
+
 	BString rep;
 	rep << hPixelCount;
 	dimensionsInfo.ReplaceAll("%width", rep);
 	rep = "";
 	rep << vPixelCount;
 	dimensionsInfo.ReplaceAll("%height", rep);
+
 	invalRect.Set(10, 5, 10 + StringWidth(fInfoStr), fFontHeight+7);
 	SetHighColor(ViewColor());
 	FillRect(invalRect);
diff --git a/src/apps/pairs/PairsWindow.cpp b/src/apps/pairs/PairsWindow.cpp
index 8a198a277f..e0379e023f 100644
--- a/src/apps/pairs/PairsWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/pairs/PairsWindow.cpp
@@ -305,10 +305,10 @@ PairsWindow::MessageReceived(BMessage* message)
 
 				// Note: in english the singular form is never used, but other
 				// languages behave differently.
-				BMessageFormat().Format(strAbout, B_TRANSLATE(
+				static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE(
 					"You completed the game in "
-					"{0, plural, one{# click} other{# clicks}}.\n"),
-					fButtonClicks);
+					"{0, plural, one{# click} other{# clicks}}.\n"));
+				format.Format(strAbout, fButtonClicks);
 
 				BAlert* alert = new BAlert("about",
 					strAbout.String(),
diff --git a/src/apps/poorman/StatusSlider.cpp b/src/apps/poorman/StatusSlider.cpp
index 551b2f340c..68aad6c08b 100644
--- a/src/apps/poorman/StatusSlider.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/poorman/StatusSlider.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ StatusSlider::StatusSlider(const char* name, const char* label,
 	const char* statusPrefix, BMessage* message, int32 minValue, int32 maxValue)
 	:
 	BSlider(name, label, message, minValue, maxValue, B_HORIZONTAL),
-	fStatusPrefix(statusPrefix)
+	fFormat(statusPrefix)
 {
 }
 
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ StatusSlider::StatusSlider(const char* name, const char* label,
 const char*
 StatusSlider::UpdateText() const
 {
-	BMessageFormat().Format(fStr, fStatusPrefix, Value());
+	fStr.Truncate(0);
+	fFormat.Format(fStr, Value());
 	return fStr.String();
 }
diff --git a/src/apps/poorman/StatusSlider.h b/src/apps/poorman/StatusSlider.h
index 1236ee75ac..1f3c53ff6a 100644
--- a/src/apps/poorman/StatusSlider.h
+++ b/src/apps/poorman/StatusSlider.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 //#define BEOS_R5_COMPATIBLE
 
+#include <MessageFormat.h>
 #include <Slider.h>
 #include <String.h>
 
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ public:
 	virtual const char*	UpdateText() const;
 
 private:
-	const	char*			fStatusPrefix;
+	BMessageFormat			fFormat;
 	mutable	BString			fStr;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/kits/locale/MessageFormat.cpp b/src/kits/locale/MessageFormat.cpp
index b5af3eca36..e2e249d895 100644
--- a/src/kits/locale/MessageFormat.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/locale/MessageFormat.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
  */
 #include <MessageFormat.h>
 
+#include <Autolock.h>
 #include <FormattingConventionsPrivate.h>
 #include <LanguagePrivate.h>
 
@@ -12,9 +13,74 @@
 #include <unicode/msgfmt.h>
 
 
-status_t
-BMessageFormat::Format(BString& output, const BString message, const int32 arg)
+BMessageFormat::BMessageFormat(const BString pattern)
+	: BFormat()
 {
+	_Initialize(UnicodeString::fromUTF8(pattern.String()));
+}
+
+
+BMessageFormat::~BMessageFormat()
+{
+	delete fFormatter;
+}
+
+
+status_t
+BMessageFormat::InitCheck()
+{
+	return fInitStatus;
+}
+
+
+status_t
+BMessageFormat::SetLanguage(const BLanguage& newLanguage)
+{
+	if (!fFormatter)
+		return B_NO_INIT;
+
+	BAutolock lock(fLock);
+	if (!lock.IsLocked())
+		return B_ERROR;
+
+	fInitStatus = BFormat::SetLanguage(newLanguage);
+
+	if (fInitStatus == B_OK) {
+		UnicodeString storage;
+		_Initialize(fFormatter->toPattern(storage));
+	}
+	return fInitStatus;
+}
+
+
+status_t
+BMessageFormat::SetFormattingConventions(
+	const BFormattingConventions& conventions)
+{
+	if (!fFormatter)
+		return B_NO_INIT;
+
+	BAutolock lock(fLock);
+	if (!lock.IsLocked())
+		return B_ERROR;
+
+	fInitStatus = BFormat::SetFormattingConventions(conventions);
+
+	if (fInitStatus == B_OK) {
+		UnicodeString storage;
+		_Initialize(fFormatter->toPattern(storage));
+	}
+	return fInitStatus;
+}
+
+
+status_t
+BMessageFormat::Format(BString& output, const int32 arg) const
+{
+	BAutolock lock(fLock);
+	if (!lock.IsLocked())
+		return B_ERROR;
+
 	UnicodeString buffer;
 	UErrorCode error = U_ZERO_ERROR;
 
@@ -22,15 +88,8 @@ BMessageFormat::Format(BString& output, const BString message, const int32 arg)
 		(int32_t)arg
 	};
 
-	Locale* icuLocale
-		= fConventions.UseStringsFromPreferredLanguage()
-			? BLanguage::Private(&fLanguage).ICULocale()
-			: BFormattingConventions::Private(&fConventions).ICULocale();
-
-	MessageFormat formatter(UnicodeString::fromUTF8(message.String()),
-		*icuLocale, error);
 	FieldPosition pos;
-	buffer = formatter.format(arguments, 1, buffer, pos, error);
+	buffer = fFormatter->format(arguments, 1, buffer, pos, error);
 	if (!U_SUCCESS(error))
 		return B_ERROR;
 
@@ -39,3 +98,27 @@ BMessageFormat::Format(BString& output, const BString message, const int32 arg)
 
 	return B_OK;
 }
+
+
+status_t
+BMessageFormat::_Initialize(const UnicodeString& pattern)
+{
+	UErrorCode error = U_ZERO_ERROR;
+	Locale* icuLocale
+		= fConventions.UseStringsFromPreferredLanguage()
+			? BLanguage::Private(&fLanguage).ICULocale()
+			: BFormattingConventions::Private(&fConventions).ICULocale();
+
+	fFormatter = new MessageFormat(pattern, *icuLocale, error);
+
+	if (fFormatter == NULL)
+		fInitStatus = B_NO_MEMORY;
+
+	if (!U_SUCCESS(error)) {
+		delete fFormatter;
+		fInitStatus = B_ERROR;
+		fFormatter = NULL;
+	}
+
+	return fInitStatus;
+}
diff --git a/src/kits/tracker/CountView.cpp b/src/kits/tracker/CountView.cpp
index 195ac4f65b..a1d3c7c813 100644
--- a/src/kits/tracker/CountView.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/tracker/CountView.cpp
@@ -232,10 +232,10 @@ BCountView::Draw(BRect updateRect)
 		if (fLastCount == 0)
 			itemString << B_TRANSLATE("no items");
 		else {
-			BMessageFormat().Format(itemString, B_TRANSLATE_COMMENT(
+			static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE_COMMENT(
 				"{0, plural, one{# item} other{# items}}",
-				"Number of selected items: \"1 item\" or \"2 items\""),
-				fLastCount);
+				"Number of selected items: \"1 item\" or \"2 items\""));
+			format.Format(itemString, fLastCount);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/kits/tracker/InfoWindow.cpp b/src/kits/tracker/InfoWindow.cpp
index 0e311e5758..72036a0b44 100644
--- a/src/kits/tracker/InfoWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/tracker/InfoWindow.cpp
@@ -675,23 +675,25 @@ BInfoWindow::MessageReceived(BMessage* message)
 void
 BInfoWindow::GetSizeString(BString &result, off_t size, int32 fileCount)
 {
-	char sizeBuffer[128];
-	BMessageFormat messageFormat;
+	static BMessageFormat sizeFormat(B_TRANSLATE(
+		"{0, plural, one{(# byte)} other{(# bytes)}}"));
+	static BMessageFormat countFormat(B_TRANSLATE(
+		"{0, plural, one{for # file} other{for # files}}"));
 
+	char sizeBuffer[128];
 	result << string_for_size((double)size, sizeBuffer, sizeof(sizeBuffer));
 
 	if (size >= kKBSize) {
 		result << " ";
-		messageFormat.Format(result, B_TRANSLATE(
-			"{0, plural, one{(# byte)} other{(# bytes)}}"), size);
+				
+		sizeFormat.Format(result, size);
 			// "bytes" translation could come from string_for_size
 			// which could be part of the localekit itself
 	}
 
 	if (fileCount != 0) {
 		result << " ";
-		messageFormat.Format(result, B_TRANSLATE(
-			"{0, plural, one{for # file} other{for # files}}"), fileCount);
+		countFormat.Format(result, fileCount);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/servers/mail/DeskbarView.cpp b/src/servers/mail/DeskbarView.cpp
index 520c5b9482..33117a95cd 100644
--- a/src/servers/mail/DeskbarView.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/mail/DeskbarView.cpp
@@ -542,10 +542,10 @@ DeskbarView::_BuildMenu()
 	// The New E-mail query
 
 	if (fNewMessages > 0) {
+		static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE(
+			"{0, plural, one{# new message} other{# new messages}}"));
 		BString string;
-		BMessageFormat().Format(string, B_TRANSLATE(
-			"{0, plural, one{# new message} other{# new messages}}"),
-			fNewMessages);
+		format.Format(string, fNewMessages);
 
 		_GetNewQueryRef(ref);
 
diff --git a/src/servers/mail/MailDaemon.cpp b/src/servers/mail/MailDaemon.cpp
index f1e5dab4b6..cdad239091 100644
--- a/src/servers/mail/MailDaemon.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/mail/MailDaemon.cpp
@@ -178,9 +178,10 @@ MailDaemonApp::ReadyToRun()
 
 	BString string;
 	if (fNewMessages > 0) {
-		BMessageFormat().Format(string, B_TRANSLATE(
-			"{0, plural, one{# new message} other{# new messages}}"),
-			fNewMessages);
+		static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE(
+			"{0, plural, one{# new message} other{# new messages}}"));
+
+		format.Format(string, fNewMessages);
 	} else
 		string = B_TRANSLATE("No new messages");
 
@@ -344,11 +345,12 @@ MailDaemonApp::MessageReceived(BMessage* msg)
 
 		case 'numg':
 		{
-			int32 numMessages = msg->FindInt32("num_messages");
-			BMessageFormat().Format(fAlertString, B_TRANSLATE(
-				"{0, plural, one{# new message} other{# new messages}} "
-				"for %name\n"), numMessages);
+			static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE("{0, plural, "
+				"one{# new message} other{# new messages}} for %name\n"));
 
+			int32 numMessages = msg->FindInt32("num_messages");
+			fAlertString.Truncate(0);
+			format.Format(fAlertString, numMessages);
 			fAlertString.ReplaceFirst("%name", msg->FindString("name"));
 			break;
 		}
@@ -369,9 +371,9 @@ MailDaemonApp::MessageReceived(BMessage* msg)
 			BString string;
 
 			if (fNewMessages > 0) {
-				BMessageFormat().Format(string, B_TRANSLATE(
-					"{0, plural, one{# new message.} other{# new messages.}}"),
-					fNewMessages);
+				static BMessageFormat format(B_TRANSLATE(
+					"{0, plural, one{# new message.} other{# new messages.}}"));
+				format.Format(string, fNewMessages);
 			} else
 				string << B_TRANSLATE("No new messages.");
 
diff --git a/src/tests/kits/locale/MessageFormatTest.cpp b/src/tests/kits/locale/MessageFormatTest.cpp
index 65407cb76c..e91b5f07fd 100644
--- a/src/tests/kits/locale/MessageFormatTest.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/kits/locale/MessageFormatTest.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ void
 MessageFormatTest::TestFormat()
 {
 	BString output;
-	BMessageFormat formatter;
 
 	struct Test {
 		const char* locale;
@@ -55,9 +54,10 @@ MessageFormatTest::TestFormat()
 		NextSubTest();
 		output.Truncate(0);
 		BLanguage language(tests[i].locale);
+		BMessageFormat formatter(tests[i].pattern);
 		formatter.SetLanguage(language);
 
-		result = formatter.Format(output, tests[i].pattern, tests[i].number);
+		result = formatter.Format(output, tests[i].number);
 		CPPUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(B_OK, result);
 		CPPUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(BString(tests[i].expected), output);
 	}