diff --git a/src/app/app.js b/src/app/app.js
index 54b75518..a35520df 100644
--- a/src/app/app.js
+++ b/src/app/app.js
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ var app = angular.module('baw',
                              'templates-app', /* these are the precompiled templates */
                              'templates-common',
 
+                             'bawApp.services.resource', // a custom wrapped around ngResource
                              'bawApp.directives', /* our directives.js  */
                              'bawApp.directives.ngAudio', /* our directives.js  */
                              'bawApp.filters', /* our filters.js     */
diff --git a/src/app/listen/listen.js b/src/app/listen/listen.js
index 7f7bbec5..92105e3b 100644
--- a/src/app/listen/listen.js
+++ b/src/app/listen/listen.js
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ angular.module('bawApp.listen', ['decipher.tags', 'ui.bootstrap.typeahead'])
         'Site',
         'Project',
         'UserProfile',
+        'UserProfileEvents',
+        'Bookmark',
         /**
          * The listen controller.
          * @param $scope
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@ angular.module('bawApp.listen', ['decipher.tags', 'ui.bootstrap.typeahead'])
          */
             function ListenCtrl(
             $scope, $resource, $location, $routeParams, $route, $q, paths, constants, $url, ngAudioEvents,
-            AudioRecording, Media, AudioEvent, Tag, Taggings, Site, Project, UserProfile) {
+            AudioRecording, Media, AudioEvent, Tag, Taggings, Site, Project, UserProfile, UserProfileEvents, Bookmark) {
 
             var CHUNK_DURATION_SECONDS = constants.listen.chunkDurationSeconds;
 
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@ angular.module('bawApp.listen', ['decipher.tags', 'ui.bootstrap.typeahead'])
                     $scope.model.audioElement.volume = UserProfile.profile.preferences.volume;
                     $scope.model.audioElement.muted = UserProfile.profile.preferences.muted;
                 };
-                $scope.$on(UserProfile.eventKeys.loaded, profileLoaded);
+                $scope.$on(UserProfileEvents.loaded, profileLoaded);
                 if (UserProfile.profile && UserProfile.profile.preferences) {
                     profileLoaded(null, UserProfile);
                 }
diff --git a/src/baw.configuration.tpl.js b/src/baw.configuration.tpl.js
index ea5efdba..e81eb069 100644
--- a/src/baw.configuration.tpl.js
+++ b/src/baw.configuration.tpl.js
@@ -4,55 +4,10 @@ angular.module('bawApp.configuration', ['url'])
  * This module contains static paths that are stored centrally for easy configuration.
  * App dependent.
  *
- * The root properties changed when the app is built with grunt.
+ * The root properties are changed when the app is built with grunt.
  */
 
     .constant("conf.paths", (function () {
-        /**
-         * Joins path fragments together.
-         * @param {...[string]} fragments
-         * @returns {*}
-         */
-        function joinPathFragments(fragments) {
-            fragments = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 0);
-
-            if (fragments.length === 0) {
-                return undefined;
-            }
-            else if (fragments.length === 1) {
-                return fragments[0];
-            }
-            else {
-                var path = fragments[0];
-
-                if (path.slice(-1) === "/") {
-                    path = path.slice(0, -1);
-                }
-
-                for (var i = 1; i < fragments.length; i++) {
-                    var f = fragments[i];
-
-                    if ((typeof f) !== "string") {
-                        throw "joinPathFragments: Path fragment " + f + " is not a string";
-                    }
-
-                    var hasFirst = f[0] === "/";
-                    var hasLast = (f.slice(-1))[0] === "/";
-
-                    if (!hasFirst) {
-                        f = "/" + f;
-                    }
-
-                    if (hasLast && i !== (fragments.length - 1)) {
-                        f = f.slice(0, -1);
-                    }
-
-                    path += f;
-                }
-
-                return path;
-            }
-        }
 
         var paths = {
             api: {
@@ -92,6 +47,9 @@ angular.module('bawApp.configuration', ['url'])
                     user: {
                         profile: "/my_account",
                         settings: "/my_account/prefs"
+                    },
+                    bookmark: {
+                        show: "user_accounts/{userId}/bookmarks/{bookmarkId}"
                     }
                 },
                 links: {
@@ -139,6 +97,52 @@ angular.module('bawApp.configuration', ['url'])
         };
 
 
+        /**
+         * Joins path fragments together.
+         * @param {...[string]} fragments
+         * @returns {*}
+         */
+        function joinPathFragments(fragments) {
+            fragments = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 0);
+
+            if (fragments.length === 0) {
+                return undefined;
+            }
+            else if (fragments.length === 1) {
+                return fragments[0];
+            }
+            else {
+                var path = fragments[0];
+
+                if (path.slice(-1) === "/") {
+                    path = path.slice(0, -1);
+                }
+
+                for (var i = 1; i < fragments.length; i++) {
+                    var f = fragments[i];
+
+                    if ((typeof f) !== "string") {
+                        throw "joinPathFragments: Path fragment " + f + " is not a string";
+                    }
+
+                    var hasFirst = f[0] === "/";
+                    var hasLast = (f.slice(-1))[0] === "/";
+
+                    if (!hasFirst) {
+                        f = "/" + f;
+                    }
+
+                    if (hasLast && i !== (fragments.length - 1)) {
+                        f = f.slice(0, -1);
+                    }
+
+                    path += f;
+                }
+
+                return path;
+            }
+        }
+
         // add helper paths
         function recursivePath(source, root) {
             for (var key in source) {
@@ -164,7 +168,7 @@ angular.module('bawApp.configuration', ['url'])
 
         return paths;
     })()
-    )
+)
     .constant("conf.constants", {
         listen: {
             chunkDurationSeconds: 30.0,
@@ -186,5 +190,9 @@ angular.module('bawApp.configuration', ['url'])
         },
         annotationLibrary: {
             paddingSeconds: 1.0
+        },
+        bookmark: {
+            lastPlaybackPositionName: "Last playback position",
+            appCategory: "<<application>>"
         }
     });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/services/bawResource.js b/src/components/services/bawResource.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..59e63207
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/services/bawResource.js
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+angular.module("bawApp.services.resource", ["ngResource"])
+    .factory("bawResource", ["$resource", function ($resource) {
+
+        /**
+         *
+         * @param uri
+         * @returns {*}
+         */
+        function uriConvert(uri) {
+            // find all place holders in this form: '{identifier}'
+            // replace with placeholder in this form: ':identifier'
+            return uri.replace(/(\{([^{}]*)\})/g, ":$2");
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * @name bawResource
+         * Helper method for adding a put request onto the standard angular resource service
+         * @param {string} path - the web server path
+         * @param {Object} paramDefaults - the default parameters
+         * @param {Object} [actions] - a set of actions to also add (extend)
+         * @return {*}
+         */
+        var bawResource = function resourcePut(path, paramDefaults, actions) {
+            path = uriConvert(path);
+
+            var a = actions || {};
+            a.update = a.update || { method: 'PUT' };
+            var resource = $resource(path, paramDefaults, a);
+
+            resource.modifiedPath = path;
+
+            return  resource;
+        };
+
+        return bawResource;
+    }]);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/services/bawResource.spec.js b/src/components/services/bawResource.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1a61a57b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/services/bawResource.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+describe("The bawResource service", function () {
+
+    var Bookmark;
+
+    beforeEach(module('bawApp.services'));
+
+    beforeEach(inject(["Bookmark", function (providedBookmark) {
+        Bookmark = providedBookmark;
+    }]));
+
+
+    it("should return a resource constructor that includes update/put", function () {
+
+        expect(Bookmark).toImplement({
+            "get": null,
+            "save": null,
+            "query": null,
+            "remove": null,
+            "delete": null,
+            "update": null,
+            "modifiedPath": null
+        });
+    });
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/services/bookmark.js b/src/components/services/bookmark.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5f62a79a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/services/bookmark.js
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+var bawss = bawss || angular.module("bawApp.services", ['bawApp.services.resource', 'bawApp.configuration']);
+
+
+bawss.factory('Bookmark', [
+    'bawResource',
+    'conf.paths',
+    'conf.constants',
+    'UserProfile',
+    '$q',
+    function (bawResource, paths, constants, UserProfile, $q) {
+        var bc = constants.bookmark;
+
+        // valid query options: category
+        // required parameters: userId
+        // optional parameters: bookmarkId
+
+        // at the moment we only support bookmark modification for users (not for recordings)
+        var resource = bawResource(paths.api.routes.bookmark.showAbsolute, {});
+
+        // retrieve or set the playback bookmark
+        resource.applicationBookmarks = {};
+        function getApplicationBookmarks(userProfile) {
+            console.info("User profile hook success, retrieving app bookmarks", arguments);
+            var deferred = $q.defer();
+
+            resource.query({
+                    category: bc.appCategory,
+                    userId: userProfile.id
+                },
+                function appBookmarksQuerySuccess(values, headers) {
+                    console.info("Application bookmarks received", values);
+
+                    // transform into associative hash
+                    values.forEach(function (value, index) {
+                        resource.applicationBookmarks[value.name] = value;
+                    });
+
+                    deferred.resolve(values);
+                },
+                function appBookmarksQueryFailure() {
+                    console.error("Retrieving application bookmarks failed");
+
+                    deferred.reject();
+                });
+
+            return deferred.promise;
+        }
+
+        resource.applicationBookmarksPromise = UserProfile.get.then(
+            getApplicationBookmarks,
+            function () {
+                console.error("user profile hook failure", arguments);
+            });
+
+
+        resource.savePlaybackPosition = function savePlaybackPosition(recordingId, offset) {
+            var bookmark = resource.applicationBookmarks[bc.lastPlaybackPositionName];
+            if (bookmark) {
+                // update
+                bookmark.offsetSeconds = offset;
+                bookmark.audioRecordingId = recordingId;
+
+            }
+            else {
+                // create
+                bookmark = {
+                    name: bc.lastPlaybackPositionName,
+                    category: bc.appCategory,
+                    offsetSeconds: offset,
+                    audioRecordingId: recordingId
+                };
+
+
+            }
+        };
+
+
+        return  resource;
+    }]);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/services/bookmark.spec.js b/src/components/services/bookmark.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..438b4119
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/services/bookmark.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+describe("The bookmark service", function () {
+
+    var bawResource;
+
+    beforeEach(module('bawApp.services'));
+
+    beforeEach(inject(["Bookmark", function (providedBawResource) {
+        bawResource = providedBawResource;
+    }]));
+
+
+    it("will return a promise for retrieving application bookmarks", function() {
+
+        expect(bawResource.applicationBookmarksPromise).toImplement({
+            catch: null,
+            finally: null,
+            then: null
+        });
+    });
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/services/services.js b/src/components/services/services.js
index e7e9e16d..1661dcb9 100644
--- a/src/components/services/services.js
+++ b/src/components/services/services.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
         return uri.replace(/(\{([^{}]*)\})/g, ":$2");
     }
 
-    var bawss = angular.module("bawApp.services", ['ngResource', 'bawApp.configuration']);
+    var bawss = bawss || angular.module("bawApp.services", ['ngResource', 'bawApp.configuration']);
 
     bawss.factory('Project', [ '$resource', 'conf.paths', function ($resource, paths) {
         return resourcePut($resource, uriConvert(paths.api.routes.projectAbsolute), {projectId: "@projectId"});
diff --git a/src/components/services/url.js b/src/components/services/url.js
index 20f7a6ac..47d7a100 100644
--- a/src/components/services/url.js
+++ b/src/components/services/url.js
@@ -2,17 +2,6 @@ angular.module('url', ['ng']).
 
     service('$url', function () {
 
-        var copy = angular.copy,
-            equals = angular.equals,
-            extend = angular.extend,
-            forEach = angular.forEach,
-            isDefined = angular.isDefined,
-            isFunction = angular.isFunction,
-            isString = angular.isString,
-            jqLite = angular.element,
-            noop = angular.noop,
-            toJson = angular.toJson;
-
         function fixedEncodeURIComponent(str) {
             str = str || "";
             return encodeURIComponent(str)
@@ -23,6 +12,7 @@ angular.module('url', ['ng']).
                 .replace(/\*/g, '%2A')
                 .replace(/%20/g, '+');
         }
+
         this.fixedEncodeURIComponent = fixedEncodeURIComponent;
 
         /**
@@ -37,7 +27,7 @@ angular.module('url', ['ng']).
          *                     / "*" / "+" / "," / ";" / "="
          */
         function encodeUriQuery(val, pctEncodeSpaces) {
-            if(angular.isUndefined(val) || val === null){
+            if (angular.isUndefined(val) || val === null) {
                 return '';
             }
             return encodeURIComponent(val).
@@ -47,6 +37,7 @@ angular.module('url', ['ng']).
                 replace(/%2C/gi, ',').
                 replace(/%20/g, (pctEncodeSpaces ? '%20' : '+'));
         }
+
         this.encodeUriQuery = encodeUriQuery;
 
         function toKeyValue(obj, validateKeys) {
@@ -69,9 +60,10 @@ angular.module('url', ['ng']).
             });
             return parts.length ? parts.join('&') : '';
         }
+
         this.toKeyValue = toKeyValue;
 
-            this.formatUri = function(uri, values) {
+        this.formatUri = function (uri, values) {
 
             // first format string
             var result = uri.formatReturnUnused(values),
@@ -88,9 +80,9 @@ angular.module('url', ['ng']).
                 //    formatted = formatted.slice(0, 1);
                 //}
 
-                var query =  toKeyValue(unused, true);
+                var query = toKeyValue(unused, true);
 
-                if  (formatted.indexOf("?") === -1 && query.length > 0) {
+                if (formatted.indexOf("?") === -1 && query.length > 0) {
                     formatted += "?";
                 }
 
@@ -101,7 +93,4 @@ angular.module('url', ['ng']).
 
 
         };
-
-
-
     });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/services/userProfile.js b/src/components/services/userProfile.js
index fc53a67e..0e1af1cd 100644
--- a/src/components/services/userProfile.js
+++ b/src/components/services/userProfile.js
@@ -1,82 +1,82 @@
 var bawss = bawss || angular.module("bawApp.services", ["ngResource", "bawApp.configuration"]);
 
-bawss.factory("UserProfile", [
-    "$rootScope",
-    "$http",
-    "conf.paths",
-    "conf.constants",
-    function ($rootScope, $http, paths, constants) {
-        var profileUrl = paths.api.routes.user.profileAbsolute,
-            preferencesUrl = paths.api.routes.user.settingsAbsolute,
-            eventKeys = {
-                "loaded": "UserProfile:Loaded"/*,
-                "preferencesChanged": "UserProfile:PreferencesChanged"*/
+bawss
+    .constant("UserProfileEvents", {
+        "loaded": "UserProfile:Loaded"/*,
+         "preferencesChanged": "UserProfile:PreferencesChanged"*/
+    })
+    .factory("UserProfile", [
+        "$rootScope",
+        "$http",
+        "conf.paths",
+        "conf.constants",
+        "UserProfileEvents",
+        function ($rootScope, $http, paths, constants, UserProfileEvents) {
+            var profileUrl = paths.api.routes.user.profileAbsolute,
+                preferencesUrl = paths.api.routes.user.settingsAbsolute;
+
+            var exports = {
             };
 
-        var exports = {
-            eventKeys: eventKeys
-        };
-
-        var throttleCount = 0,
-            throttleAmount = 1000;
-
-        /**
-         * Update the server's stored settings.
-         * Calls to this function are throttled.
-         */
-        exports.updatePreferences = function throttleWrapper() {
-            console.debug("updatePreferences: throttled");
-            throttleCount++;
+            var throttleCount = 0,
+                throttleAmount = 1000;
+
+            /**
+             * Update the server's stored settings.
+             * Calls to this function are throttled.
+             */
+            exports.updatePreferences = function throttleWrapper() {
+                console.debug("updatePreferences: throttled");
+                throttleCount++;
+
+                _.throttle(function updatePreferences() {
+                    console.debug("updatePreferences: sending to server, waited %s attempts", throttleCount);
+                    throttleCount = 0;
+
+                    $http.put(preferencesUrl, exports.profile.preferences).then(
+                        function success(response) {
+                            console.info("updatePreferences:success");
+                        },
+                        function error(response) {
+                            console.error("updatePreferences:failed", response);
+                        }
+                    );
+                }, throttleAmount)();
+            };
 
-            _.throttle(function updatePreferences() {
-                console.debug("updatePreferences: sending to server, waited %s attempts", throttleCount);
-                throttleCount = 0;
+            exports.profile = null;
 
-                $http.put(preferencesUrl, exports.profile.preferences).then(
+            exports.get = $http.get(profileUrl).then(
                     function success(response) {
-                        console.info("updatePreferences:success");
+                        console.log("User profile loaded");
+
+                        exports.profile = (new baw.UserProfile(response.data, constants.defaultProfile));
+                        return exports.profile;
                     },
                     function error(response) {
-                        console.error("updatePreferences:failed", response);
-                    }
-                );
-            }, throttleAmount)();
-        };
-
-        exports.profile = null;
+                        console.error("User profile load failed, default profile loaded", response);
 
-        exports.get = function () {
+                        exports.profile = (new baw.UserProfile(null, constants.defaultProfile));
+                    }
+                ).finally(function () {
+                        $rootScope.$broadcast(UserProfileEvents.loaded, exports);
+                    });
 
-            $http.get(profileUrl).then(
-                function success(response) {
-                    console.log("User profile loaded");
 
-                    exports.profile = (new baw.UserProfile(response.data, constants.defaultProfile));
-                },
-                function error(response) {
-                    console.error("User profile load failed, default profile loaded", response);
+            exports.listen = function (events) {
+                angular.forEach(events, function (callback, key) {
+                    $rootScope.$on(key, function (event, value) {
 
-                    exports.profile = (new baw.UserProfile(null, constants.defaultProfile));
-                }
-            ).finally(function () {
-                    $rootScope.$broadcast(eventKeys.loaded, exports);
+                        callback.apply(null, [key, exports, value]);
+                    });
                 });
-        };
-
-        exports.listen = function (events) {
-            angular.forEach(events, function (callback, key) {
-                $rootScope.$on(key, function (event, value) {
-
-                    callback.apply(null, [key, exports, value]);
-                });
-            });
-        };
+            };
 
-        // download asap (async)
-        exports.get();
+            // download asap (async)
+            //exports.get();
 
-        // return api
-        return exports;
+            // return api
+            return exports;
 
-    }
-]);
\ No newline at end of file
+        }
+    ]);
\ No newline at end of file