diff --git a/samples/main-ptr.cc b/samples/main-ptr.cc
index fc6f97551..67f20df04 100644
--- a/samples/main-ptr.cc
+++ b/samples/main-ptr.cc
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[])
   {
     // Create a new object of type A, store it in global 
     // variable g_a
-    Ptr<A> a = new A ();
+    Ptr<A> a = MakeNewObject<A> ();
     a->Method ();
     Ptr<A> prev = StoreA (a);
     NS_ASSERT (prev == 0);
@@ -58,19 +58,17 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[])
   {
     // Create a new object of type A, store it in global 
     // variable g_a, get a hold on the previous A object.
-    Ptr<A> a = new A ();
+    Ptr<A> a = MakeNewObject<A> ();
     Ptr<A> prev = StoreA (a);
     // call method on object
     prev->Method ();
     // Clear the currently-stored object
     ClearA ();
-    // remove the raw pointer from its smart pointer.
-    // we can do this because the refcount is exactly one
-    // here
-    A *raw = prev.Get ();
+    // get the raw pointer and release it.
+    A *raw = GetPointer (prev);
     prev = 0;
     raw->Method ();
-    delete raw;
+    raw->Unref ();
   }
 
 
diff --git a/src/core/ns-unknown.cc b/src/core/ns-unknown.cc
index 15f433c1b..a7fef9a28 100644
--- a/src/core/ns-unknown.cc
+++ b/src/core/ns-unknown.cc
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ NsUnknown::DoQueryInterface (Iid iid) const
 void 
 NsUnknown::AddInterface (Ptr<NsUnknown> interface)
 {
-  NsUnknown *p = interface.Peek ();
+  NsUnknown *p = PeekPointer (interface);
   m_impl->AddInterface (p);
   m_impl->RefAll (p->m_impl);
   p->m_impl->UnrefAll ();
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ NsUnknown::AddInterface (Ptr<NsUnknown> interface)
 void
 NsUnknown::AddSelfInterface (Iid iid, Ptr<NsUnknown> interface)
 {
-  m_impl->AddSelfInterface (iid, interface.Peek ());
+  m_impl->AddSelfInterface (iid, PeekPointer (interface));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/core/ns-unknown.h b/src/core/ns-unknown.h
index 5637d0101..e22107675 100644
--- a/src/core/ns-unknown.h
+++ b/src/core/ns-unknown.h
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ NsUnknown::QueryInterface (Iid iid) const
   Ptr<NsUnknown> found = DoQueryInterface (iid);
   if (found != 0)
     {
-      return Ptr<T> (dynamic_cast<T *> (found.Peek ()));
+      return Ptr<T> (dynamic_cast<T *> (PeekPointer (found)));
     }
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/core/ptr.cc b/src/core/ptr.cc
index ff94eaeca..77b19fcd9 100644
--- a/src/core/ptr.cc
+++ b/src/core/ptr.cc
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ PtrTest::RunTests (void)
       {
         Ptr<NoCount const> p1 = p;
       }
-      raw = p.Get ();
+      raw = GetPointer (p);
       p = 0;
     }
     if (m_nDestroyed != 0)
@@ -255,8 +255,8 @@ PtrTest::RunTests (void)
   m_nDestroyed = 0;
   {
     Ptr<NoCount> p = MakeNewObject<NoCount> (cb);
-    const NoCount *v1 = p.Peek();
-    NoCount *v2 = p.Peek();
+    const NoCount *v1 = PeekPointer (p);
+    NoCount *v2 = PeekPointer (p);
     v1->Nothing ();
     v2->Nothing ();
   }
diff --git a/src/core/ptr.h b/src/core/ptr.h
index ffbc1e7fd..60d94a18a 100644
--- a/src/core/ptr.h
+++ b/src/core/ptr.h
@@ -28,18 +28,26 @@
 namespace ns3 {
 
 /**
- * \brief smart pointer class similar to boost::shared_ptr
+ * \brief smart pointer class similar to boost::intrusive_ptr
+ *
+ * This smart-pointer class assumes that the underlying
+ * type provides a pair of Ref and Unref methods which are
+ * expected to increment and decrement the internal refcount
+ * of the object instance.
  *
- * This smart-pointer class is supposed to be used to manage
- * heap-allocated objects: when it decides it does not need
- * the object it references, it invokes operator delete on it.
  * This implementation allows you to manipulate the smart pointer
  * as if it was a normal pointer: you can compare it with zero,
- * compare it against other pointers, etc. However, the only 
- * operation we are careful to avoid is the conversion back to
- * raw pointers: if you need to convert back, you need to invoke
- * the Ptr<T>::Remove method which returns a raw pointer and
- * makes the smart pointer forget about the raw pointer.
+ * compare it against other pointers, assign zero to it, etc.
+ *
+ * It is possible to extract the raw pointer from this
+ * smart pointer with the GetPointer and PeekPointer methods.
+ *
+ * If you want to store a newed object into a smart pointer,
+ * we recommend you to use the MakeNewObject template functions
+ * to create the object and store it in a smart pointer to avoid
+ * memory leaks. These functions are really small conveniance
+ * functions and their goal is just is save you a small
+ * bit of typing.
  */
 template <typename T>
 class Ptr 
@@ -51,6 +59,11 @@ private:
     void operator delete (void *);
   };
   friend class Ptr<const T>;
+  template <typename U>
+  friend U *GetPointer (const Ptr<U> &p);
+  template <typename U>
+  friend U *PeekPointer (const Ptr<U> &p);
+
   void Acquire (void) const;
 public:
   /**
@@ -74,53 +87,12 @@ public:
   ~Ptr () ;
   Ptr<T> &operator = (Ptr const& o);
 
-  /**
-   * \return the pointer managed by this smart pointer.
-   *
-   * The underlying refcount is not incremented prior
-   * to returning to the caller so the caller is not
-   * responsible for calling Unref himself.
-   */
-  T * Peek () const;
-
-  /**
-   * \return the pointer managed by this smart pointer.
-   *
-   * The underlying refcount is incremented prior
-   * to returning to the caller so the caller is
-   * responsible for calling Unref himself.
-   */
-  T * Get () const;
   T *operator -> () const;
   T *operator -> ();
   // allow if (!sp)
   bool operator! ();
   // allow if (sp)
   operator Tester * () const;
-  // allow if (sp == 0)
-  template <typename T1, typename T2>
-  inline friend bool operator == (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, T2 const *rhs);
-  // allow if (0 == sp)
-  template <typename T1, typename T2>
-  inline friend bool operator == (T1 const *lhs, Ptr<T2> &rhs);
-  // allow if (sp != 0)
-  template <typename T1, typename T2>
-  inline friend bool operator != (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, T2 const *rhs);
-  // allow if (0 != sp)
-  template <typename T1, typename T2>
-  inline friend bool operator != (T1 const *lhs, Ptr<T2> &rhs);
-
-  // allow if (sp0 == sp1)
-  template <typename T1, typename T2>
-  inline friend bool operator == (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, Ptr<T2> const &rhs);
-  // allow if (sp0 != sp1)
-  template <typename T1, typename T2>
-  inline friend bool operator != (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, Ptr<T2> const &rhs);
-
-  template <typename T1, typename T2>
-  inline friend Ptr<T1> const_pointer_cast (Ptr<T2> const&p);
-
-
 };
 
 template <typename T>
@@ -147,6 +119,62 @@ Ptr<T> MakeNewObject (T1 a1, T2 a2, T3 a3, T4 a4, T5 a5, T6 a6);
 template <typename T, typename T1, typename T2, typename T3, typename T4, typename T5, typename T6, typename T7>
 Ptr<T> MakeNewObject (T1 a1, T2 a2, T3 a3, T4 a4, T5 a5, T6 a6, T7 a7);
 
+/**
+ * \return the pointer managed by this smart pointer.
+ *
+ * The underlying refcount is not incremented prior
+ * to returning to the caller so the caller is not
+ * responsible for calling Unref himself.
+ */
+template <typename T>
+T * PeekPointer (const Ptr<T> &p);
+
+/**
+ * \return the pointer managed by this smart pointer.
+ *
+ * The underlying refcount is incremented prior
+ * to returning to the caller so the caller is
+ * responsible for calling Unref himself.
+ */
+template <typename T>
+T * GetPointer (const Ptr<T> &p);
+
+
+// allow if (sp == 0)
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool operator == (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, T2 const *rhs);
+
+// allow if (0 == sp)
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool operator == (T1 const *lhs, Ptr<T2> &rhs);
+
+// allow if (sp != 0)
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool operator != (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, T2 const *rhs);
+
+// allow if (0 != sp)
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool operator != (T1 const *lhs, Ptr<T2> &rhs);
+
+// allow if (sp0 == sp1)
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool operator == (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, Ptr<T2> const &rhs);
+
+// allow if (sp0 != sp1)
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool operator != (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, Ptr<T2> const &rhs);
+
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+Ptr<T1> const_pointer_cast (Ptr<T2> const&p);
+
+} // namespace ns3
+
+
+namespace ns3 {
+
+  /*************************************************
+   *  friend non-member function implementations
+   ************************************************/
 
 template <typename T>
 Ptr<T> MakeNewObject (void)
@@ -220,6 +248,73 @@ Ptr<T> MakeNewObject (T1 a1, T2 a2, T3 a3, T4 a4, T5 a5, T6 a6, T7 a7)
   return p;
 }
 
+template <typename T>
+T * PeekPointer (const Ptr<T> &p)
+{
+  return p.m_ptr;
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+T * GetPointer (const Ptr<T> &p)
+{
+  p.Acquire ();
+  return p.m_ptr;
+}
+
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool 
+operator == (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, T2 const *rhs)
+{
+  return PeekPointer (lhs) == rhs;
+}
+
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool 
+operator == (T1 const *lhs, Ptr<T2> &rhs)
+{
+  return lhs == PeekPointer (rhs);
+}
+
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool 
+operator != (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, T2 const *rhs)
+{
+  return PeekPointer (lhs) != rhs;
+}
+
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool 
+operator != (T1 const *lhs, Ptr<T2> &rhs)
+{
+  return lhs != PeekPointer (rhs);
+}
+
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool 
+operator == (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, Ptr<T2> const &rhs)
+{
+  return PeekPointer (lhs) == PeekPointer (rhs);
+}
+
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+bool 
+operator != (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, Ptr<T2> const &rhs)
+{
+  return PeekPointer (lhs) != PeekPointer (rhs);
+}
+
+
+template <typename T1, typename T2>
+Ptr<T1>
+const_pointer_cast (Ptr<T2> const&p)
+{
+  return Ptr<T1> (const_cast<T1 *> (PeekPointer (p)));
+}
+
+
+/****************************************************
+ *      Member method implementations.
+ ***************************************************/
 
 template <typename T>
 void 
@@ -245,14 +340,14 @@ Ptr<T>::Ptr (T *ptr)
 
 template <typename T>
 Ptr<T>::Ptr (Ptr const&o) 
-  : m_ptr (o.Peek ())
+  : m_ptr (PeekPointer (o))
 {
   Acquire ();
 }
 template <typename T>
 template <typename U>
 Ptr<T>::Ptr (Ptr<U> const &o)
-  : m_ptr (o.Peek ())
+  : m_ptr (PeekPointer (o))
 {
   Acquire ();
 }
@@ -283,21 +378,6 @@ Ptr<T>::operator = (Ptr const& o)
   return *this;
 }
 
-template <typename T>
-T *
-Ptr<T>::Peek () const
-{
-  return m_ptr;
-}
-
-template <typename T>
-T * 
-Ptr<T>::Get () const
-{
-  Acquire ();
-  return m_ptr;
-}
-
 template <typename T>
 T *
 Ptr<T>::operator -> () 
@@ -330,53 +410,6 @@ Ptr<T>::operator Tester * () const
   return &test;
 }
 
-// non-member friend functions.
-template <typename T1, typename T2>
-bool 
-operator == (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, T2 const *rhs)
-{
-  return lhs.m_ptr == rhs;
-}
-template <typename T1, typename T2>
-bool 
-operator == (T1 const *lhs, Ptr<T2> &rhs)
-{
-  return lhs == rhs.m_ptr;
-}
-template <typename T1, typename T2>
-bool 
-operator != (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, T2 const *rhs)
-{
-  return lhs.m_ptr != rhs;
-}
-template <typename T1, typename T2>
-bool 
-operator != (T1 const *lhs, Ptr<T2> &rhs)
-{
-  return lhs != rhs.m_ptr;
-}
-
-template <typename T1, typename T2>
-bool 
-operator == (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, Ptr<T2> const &rhs)
-{
-  return lhs.Peek () == rhs.Peek ();
-}
-template <typename T1, typename T2>
-bool 
-operator != (Ptr<T1> const &lhs, Ptr<T2> const &rhs)
-{
-  return lhs.Peek () != rhs.Peek ();
-}
-
-
-template <typename T1, typename T2>
-Ptr<T1>
-const_pointer_cast (Ptr<T2> const&p)
-{
-  return Ptr<T1> (const_cast<T1 *> (p.m_ptr));
-}
-
 
 }; // namespace ns3
 
diff --git a/src/internet-node/arp-ipv4-interface.cc b/src/internet-node/arp-ipv4-interface.cc
index 509bd241f..a4742d04c 100644
--- a/src/internet-node/arp-ipv4-interface.cc
+++ b/src/internet-node/arp-ipv4-interface.cc
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ ArpIpv4Interface::DoCreateTraceResolver (TraceContext const &context)
   if (GetDevice () != 0)
     {
       resolver->Add ("netdevice",
-                     MakeCallback (&NetDevice::CreateTraceResolver, GetDevice ().Peek ()),
+                     MakeCallback (&NetDevice::CreateTraceResolver, PeekPointer (GetDevice ())),
                      ArpIpv4Interface::NETDEVICE);
     }
   
diff --git a/src/internet-node/internet-node.cc b/src/internet-node/internet-node.cc
index d2e8d2ae4..376797828 100644
--- a/src/internet-node/internet-node.cc
+++ b/src/internet-node/internet-node.cc
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ InternetNode::CreateTraceResolver (TraceContext const &context)
   CompositeTraceResolver *resolver = new CompositeTraceResolver (context);
   Ptr<IIpv4Private> ipv4 = QueryInterface<IIpv4Private> (IIpv4Private::iid);
   resolver->Add ("ipv4",
-                 MakeCallback (&IIpv4Private::CreateTraceResolver, ipv4.Peek ()),
+                 MakeCallback (&IIpv4Private::CreateTraceResolver, PeekPointer (ipv4)),
                  InternetNode::IPV4);
 
   return resolver;
diff --git a/src/internet-node/ipv4-l4-demux.cc b/src/internet-node/ipv4-l4-demux.cc
index 36549a1ee..5b26983f1 100644
--- a/src/internet-node/ipv4-l4-demux.cc
+++ b/src/internet-node/ipv4-l4-demux.cc
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ Ipv4L4Demux::CreateTraceResolver (TraceContext const &context)
       oss << (*i)->GetProtocolNumber ();
       Ipv4L4ProtocolTraceType protocolNumber = (*i)->GetProtocolNumber ();
       resolver->Add (protValue,
-                     MakeCallback (&Ipv4L4Protocol::CreateTraceResolver, protocol.Peek ()),
+                     MakeCallback (&Ipv4L4Protocol::CreateTraceResolver, PeekPointer (protocol)),
                      protocolNumber);
     }
   return resolver;
diff --git a/src/internet-node/l3-demux.cc b/src/internet-node/l3-demux.cc
index 1388ebb9b..9bf3dffc6 100644
--- a/src/internet-node/l3-demux.cc
+++ b/src/internet-node/l3-demux.cc
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ L3Demux::CreateTraceResolver (TraceContext const &context) const
       oss << i->second->GetProtocolNumber ();
       ProtocolTraceType context = i->second->GetProtocolNumber ();
       resolver->Add (protValue, 
-                     MakeCallback (&L3Protocol::CreateTraceResolver, i->second.Peek ()),
+                     MakeCallback (&L3Protocol::CreateTraceResolver, PeekPointer (i->second)),
                      context);
     }
   return resolver;
diff --git a/src/node/node-list.cc b/src/node/node-list.cc
index c70cd3d20..4fed7eb5e 100644
--- a/src/node/node-list.cc
+++ b/src/node/node-list.cc
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ NodeListPriv::GetNNodes (void)
 Node *
 NodeListPriv::PeekNode (uint32_t n)
 {
-  return m_nodes[n].Peek ();
+  return PeekPointer (m_nodes[n]);
 }
 
 Ptr<Node>