diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/Makefile.in b/icu4c/source/common/Makefile.in
index 16ed8e314ed..53d481a08ac 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/Makefile.in
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/Makefile.in
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ brkiter.o brkdict.o ubrk.o dbbi.o dbbi_tbl.o \
 rbbi.o rbbidata.o rbbinode.o rbbirb.o rbbiscan.o rbbisetb.o rbbistbl.o rbbitblb.o \
 icuserv.o iculserv.o icunotif.o uenum.o ustrenum.o \
 uidna.o usprep.o punycode.o \
-cwchar.o filestrm.o umemstrm.o util.o parsepos.o utrace.o
+cwchar.o filestrm.o umemstrm.o util.o parsepos.o utrace.o locbased.o
 
 STATIC_OBJECTS = $(OBJECTS:.o=.$(STATIC_O))
 
diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/brkiter.cpp b/icu4c/source/common/brkiter.cpp
index 20eb8254894..25d01b16b43 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/brkiter.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/brkiter.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "cstring.h"
 #include "mutex.h"
 #include "iculserv.h"
+#include "locbased.h"
 
 // *****************************************************************************
 // class BreakIterator
@@ -306,6 +307,7 @@ BreakIterator::getDisplayName(const Locale& objectLocale,
 BreakIterator::BreakIterator()
 {
     fBufferClone = FALSE;
+    *validLocale = *actualLocale = 0;
 }
 
 BreakIterator::~BreakIterator()
@@ -402,7 +404,8 @@ BreakIterator::createInstance(const Locale& loc, UBreakIteratorType kind, UError
     if (hasService()) {
         Locale validLoc;
         BreakIterator *result = (BreakIterator*)gService->get(loc, kind, &validLoc, status);
-        uprv_strcpy(result->validLocale, validLoc.getName());
+        U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *result);
+        locBased.setLocaleIDs(validLoc.getName(), 0);
         return result;
     } else {
         return makeInstance(loc, kind, status);
@@ -477,47 +480,23 @@ BreakIterator::makeInstance(const Locale& loc, int32_t kind, UErrorCode& status)
     // this is more of a placeholder. All the break iterators have the same actual locale: root
     // except the Thai one
     ResourceBundle res(NULL, loc, status);
-    uprv_strcpy(result->validLocale, res.getLocale(ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, status).getName());
-    if(uprv_strcmp(loc.getLanguage(), "th") == 0) {
-        uprv_strcpy(result->actualLocale, "th");
-    } else {
-        uprv_strcpy(result->actualLocale, "root");
-    }
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *result);
+    locBased.setLocaleIDs(res.getLocale(ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, status).getName(),
+                          (uprv_strcmp(loc.getLanguage(), "th") == 0) ?
+                          "th" : "root");
     return result;
 }
 
 Locale 
-BreakIterator::getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const
-{
-    switch(type) {
-    case ULOC_VALID_LOCALE:
-        // TODO: need bufferClone problems fixed before this code can work.
-        return Locale(validLocale);
-        break;
-    case ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE:
-        return Locale(actualLocale);
-        break;
-    default:
-        status = U_UNSUPPORTED_ERROR;
-        return Locale("");
-    }
+BreakIterator::getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const {
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    return locBased.getLocale(type, status);
 }
 
 const char *
-BreakIterator::getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const
-{
-    switch(type) {
-    case ULOC_VALID_LOCALE:
-        // TODO: need bufferClone problems fixed before this code can work.
-        return validLocale;
-        break;
-    case ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE:
-        return actualLocale;
-        break;
-    default:
-        status = U_UNSUPPORTED_ERROR;
-        return NULL;
-    }
+BreakIterator::getLocaleID(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const {
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    return locBased.getLocaleID(type, status);
 }
 
 U_NAMESPACE_END
diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/ubrk.cpp b/icu4c/source/common/ubrk.cpp
index 56db7045487..9a5215cbecc 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/ubrk.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/ubrk.cpp
@@ -270,7 +270,13 @@ ubrk_getLocaleByType(const UBreakIterator *bi,
                      ULocDataLocaleType type, 
                      UErrorCode* status)
 {
-  return ((BreakIterator *)bi)->getLocaleInternal(type, *status);
+    if (bi == NULL) {
+        if (U_SUCCESS(*status)) {
+            *status = U_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT_ERROR;
+        }
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return ((BreakIterator*)bi)->getLocaleID(type, *status);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/unicode/brkiter.h b/icu4c/source/common/unicode/brkiter.h
index 2d60e7abd24..ab1dbb76dea 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/unicode/brkiter.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/unicode/brkiter.h
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ public:
      * actual locale. 
      * @draft ICU 2.8
      */
-    virtual Locale getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const;
+    Locale getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const;
 
     /** Get the locale for this break iterator object. You can choose between valid and actual locale.
      *  @param type type of the locale we're looking for (valid or actual) 
@@ -575,7 +575,8 @@ public:
      *  @return the locale
      *  @internal
      */
-    virtual const char *getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const;
+    const char *getLocaleID(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const;
+
  private:
     static BreakIterator* makeCharacterInstance(const Locale& loc, UErrorCode& status);
     static BreakIterator* makeWordInstance(const Locale& loc, UErrorCode& status);
@@ -597,10 +598,12 @@ protected:
     /** @internal */
     BreakIterator (const BreakIterator &other) : UObject(other), fBufferClone(FALSE) {}
 
+private:
+
     /** @internal */
     char actualLocale[ULOC_FULLNAME_CAPACITY];
     char validLocale[ULOC_FULLNAME_CAPACITY];
-private:
+
     /**
      * The assignment operator has no real implementation.
      * It's provided to make the compiler happy. Do not call.
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.cpp
index 32019e6c42d..9956e5e04ab 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.cpp
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "iculserv.h"
 #include "ucln_in.h"
 #include "cstring.h"
+#include "locbased.h"
 
 U_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
 
@@ -599,8 +600,8 @@ Calendar::createInstance(const Locale& aLocale, UErrorCode& success)
 Calendar*
 Calendar::createInstance(TimeZone* zone, const Locale& aLocale, UErrorCode& success)
 {
-  Locale validLoc;
-  UObject* u = getService()->get(aLocale, LocaleKey::KIND_ANY, &validLoc, success);
+  Locale actualLoc;
+  UObject* u = getService()->get(aLocale, LocaleKey::KIND_ANY, &actualLoc, success);
   Calendar* c = NULL;
 
   if(U_FAILURE(success) || !u) {
@@ -634,7 +635,7 @@ Calendar::createInstance(TimeZone* zone, const Locale& aLocale, UErrorCode& succ
     delete u;
     u = NULL;
     
-    c = (Calendar*)getService()->get(l, LocaleKey::KIND_ANY, &validLoc, success);
+    c = (Calendar*)getService()->get(l, LocaleKey::KIND_ANY, &actualLoc, success);
 
     if(U_FAILURE(success) || !c) {
       delete zone;
@@ -667,8 +668,9 @@ Calendar::createInstance(TimeZone* zone, const Locale& aLocale, UErrorCode& succ
   // Now, reset calendar to default state:
   c->adoptTimeZone(zone); //  Set the correct time zone
   c->setTimeInMillis(getNow(), success); // let the new calendar have the current time.
-  // pull up valid locale from registration
-  uprv_strcpy(c->validLocale, validLoc.getName());
+  // pull up actual locale from registration
+  U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *c);
+  locBased.setLocaleIDs(0, actualLoc.getName());
   return c;
 }
 
@@ -2907,8 +2909,9 @@ Calendar::setWeekCountData(const Locale& desiredLocale, UErrorCode& status)
 
     //dateTimeElements = resource.getStringArray(kDateTimeElements, count, status);
     UResourceBundle *dateTimeElements = ures_getByKey(resource, kDateTimeElements, NULL, &status);  // TODO: should be per calendar?!
-    uprv_strcpy(validLocale, ures_getLocaleByType(resource, ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, &status));
-    uprv_strcpy(actualLocale, ures_getLocaleByType(resource, ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE, &status));
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    locBased.setLocaleIDs(ures_getLocaleByType(resource, ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, &status),
+                          ures_getLocaleByType(resource, ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE, &status));
     if (U_SUCCESS(status)) {
         int32_t arrLen;
         const int32_t *dateTimeElementsArr = ures_getIntVector(dateTimeElements, &arrLen, &status);
@@ -2950,39 +2953,16 @@ Calendar::updateTime(UErrorCode& status)
     fIsTimeSet = TRUE;
 }
 
-
 Locale 
-Calendar::getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const
-{
-  switch(type) {
-  case ULOC_VALID_LOCALE:
-    return Locale(validLocale);
-    break;
-  case ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE:
-    return Locale(actualLocale);
-    break;
-  default:
-    status = U_UNSUPPORTED_ERROR;
-    return Locale("");
-    break;
-  }
+Calendar::getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const {
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    return locBased.getLocale(type, status);
 }
 
-const char* 
-Calendar::getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const
-{
-  switch(type) {
-  case ULOC_VALID_LOCALE:
-    return validLocale;
-    break;
-  case ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE:
-    return actualLocale;
-    break;
-  default:
-    status = U_UNSUPPORTED_ERROR;
-    return NULL;
-    break;
-  }
+const char *
+Calendar::getLocaleID(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const {
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    return locBased.getLocaleID(type, status);
 }
 
 U_NAMESPACE_END
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/dcfmtsym.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/dcfmtsym.cpp
index 2074c8f2326..f470334f0b5 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/dcfmtsym.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/dcfmtsym.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 #include "unicode/ucurr.h"
 #include "unicode/choicfmt.h"
 #include "ucurrimp.h"
+#include "cstring.h"
+#include "locbased.h"
 
 // *****************************************************************************
 // class DecimalFormatSymbols
@@ -77,6 +79,8 @@ DecimalFormatSymbols::DecimalFormatSymbols(const DecimalFormatSymbols &source)
         // fastCopyFrom is safe, see docs on fSymbols
         fSymbols[(ENumberFormatSymbol)i].fastCopyFrom(source.fSymbols[(ENumberFormatSymbol)i]);
     }
+    uprv_strcpy(validLocale, source.validLocale);
+    uprv_strcpy(actualLocale, source.actualLocale);
 }
 
 // -------------------------------------
@@ -120,6 +124,8 @@ void
 DecimalFormatSymbols::initialize(const Locale& loc, UErrorCode& status,
                                  UBool useLastResortData)
 {
+    *validLocale = *actualLocale = 0;
+
     if (U_FAILURE(status))
         return;
 
@@ -171,6 +177,12 @@ DecimalFormatSymbols::initialize(const Locale& loc, UErrorCode& status,
                 }
                 /* else use the default values. */
             }
+
+            U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+            locBased.setLocaleIDs(ures_getLocaleByType(numberElementsRes,
+                                       ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, &status),
+                                  ures_getLocaleByType(numberElementsRes,
+                                       ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE, &status));
         }
         ures_close(numberElementsRes);
     }
@@ -237,6 +249,12 @@ DecimalFormatSymbols::initialize() {
     fSymbols[kNaNSymbol] = (UChar)0xfffd;               // SUB NaN
 }
 
+Locale 
+DecimalFormatSymbols::getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const {
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    return locBased.getLocale(type, status);
+}
+
 U_NAMESPACE_END
 
 #endif /* #if !UCONFIG_NO_FORMATTING */
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/dtfmtsym.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/dtfmtsym.cpp
index 5d74e9c2a0b..d717d393c85 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/dtfmtsym.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/dtfmtsym.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "mutex.h"
 #include "cmemory.h"
 #include "cstring.h"
+#include "locbased.h"
  
 // *****************************************************************************
 // class DateFormatSymbols
@@ -643,10 +644,11 @@ DateFormatSymbols::initializeData(const Locale& locale, const char *type, UError
 
     // if we make it to here, the resource data is cool, and we can get everything out
     // of it that we need except for the time-zone and localized-pattern data, which
-    // are stoerd in a separate file
+    // are stored in a separate file
     ResourceBundle data = getData(resource, gErasTag, type, status);
-    uprv_strcpy(validLocale, data.getLocale(ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, status).getName());
-    uprv_strcpy(actualLocale, data.getLocale(ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE, status).getName());
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    locBased.setLocaleIDs(data.getLocale(ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, status).getName(),
+                          data.getLocale(ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE, status).getName());
     initField(&fEras, fErasCount, data, status);
     initField(&fMonths, fMonthsCount, getData(resource, gMonthNamesTag, type, status), status);
     initField(&fShortMonths, fShortMonthsCount, getData(resource, gMonthAbbreviationsTag, type, status), status);
@@ -765,6 +767,12 @@ int32_t DateFormatSymbols::_getZoneIndex(const UnicodeString& ID) const
     return -1;
 }
 
+Locale 
+DateFormatSymbols::getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const {
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    return locBased.getLocale(type, status);
+}
+
 U_NAMESPACE_END
 
 #endif /* #if !UCONFIG_NO_FORMATTING */
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/format.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/format.cpp
index 266c0a7ab7f..5e1615f5286 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/format.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/format.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ uprv_icuin_lib_dummy(int32_t i) {
 #if !UCONFIG_NO_FORMATTING
 
 #include "unicode/format.h"
+#include "unicode/resbund.h"
+#include "cstring.h"
+#include "locbased.h"
 
 // *****************************************************************************
 // class Format
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@ FieldPosition::clone() const {
 Format::Format()
     : UObject()
 {
+    *validLocale = *actualLocale = 0;
 }
 
 // -------------------------------------
@@ -75,14 +79,17 @@ Format::~Format()
 Format::Format(const Format &that)
     : UObject(that)
 {
+    *this = that;
 }
 
 // -------------------------------------
 // assignment operator
 
 Format&
-Format::operator=(const Format& /*that*/)
+Format::operator=(const Format& that)
 {
+    uprv_strcpy(validLocale, that.validLocale);
+    uprv_strcpy(actualLocale, that.actualLocale);
     return *this;
 }
 
@@ -163,6 +170,31 @@ void Format::syntaxError(const UnicodeString& pattern,
     parseError.postContext[stop-start]= 0;
 }
 
+Locale 
+Format::getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const {
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    return locBased.getLocale(type, status);
+}
+
+const char *
+Format::getLocaleID(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const {
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    return locBased.getLocaleID(type, status);
+}
+
+void
+Format::setLocales(const ResourceBundle& res) {
+    UErrorCode status = U_ZERO_ERROR;
+    setLocaleIDs(res.getLocale(ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, status).getName(),
+                 res.getLocale(ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE, status).getName());
+}
+
+void
+Format::setLocaleIDs(const char* valid, const char* actual) {
+    U_LOCALE_BASED(locBased, *this);
+    locBased.setLocaleIDs(valid, actual);
+}
+
 U_NAMESPACE_END
 
 #endif /* #if !UCONFIG_NO_FORMATTING */
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/msgfmt.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/msgfmt.cpp
index c665c410871..55db1808911 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/msgfmt.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/msgfmt.cpp
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ MessageFormat::MessageFormat(const UnicodeString& pattern,
         return;
     }
     applyPattern(pattern, success);
+    setLocaleIDs(fLocale.getName(), fLocale.getName());
 }
  
 MessageFormat::MessageFormat(const UnicodeString& pattern,
@@ -210,6 +211,7 @@ MessageFormat::MessageFormat(const UnicodeString& pattern,
         return;
     }
     applyPattern(pattern, success);
+    setLocaleIDs(fLocale.getName(), fLocale.getName());
 }
 
 MessageFormat::MessageFormat(const UnicodeString& pattern,
@@ -234,6 +236,7 @@ MessageFormat::MessageFormat(const UnicodeString& pattern,
         return;
     }
     applyPattern(pattern, parseError, success);
+    setLocaleIDs(fLocale.getName(), fLocale.getName());
 }
 
 MessageFormat::MessageFormat(const MessageFormat& that)
@@ -427,6 +430,7 @@ MessageFormat::setLocale(const Locale& theLocale)
         defaultDateFormat = NULL;
     }
     fLocale = theLocale;
+    setLocaleIDs(fLocale.getName(), fLocale.getName());
 }
  
 // -------------------------------------
@@ -1393,40 +1397,6 @@ const DateFormat* MessageFormat::getDefaultDateFormat(UErrorCode& ec) const {
     return defaultDateFormat;
 }
 
-Locale 
-MessageFormat::getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const 
-{
-    switch(type) {
-    case ULOC_VALID_LOCALE:
-        return fLocale;
-        break;
-    case ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE:
-        return fLocale;
-        break;
-    default:
-        status = U_UNSUPPORTED_ERROR;
-        return Locale("");
-        break;
-    }
-}
-
-const char* 
-MessageFormat::getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const
-{
-    switch(type) {
-    case ULOC_VALID_LOCALE:
-        return fLocale.getName();
-        break;
-    case ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE:
-        return fLocale.getName();
-        break;
-    default:
-        status = U_UNSUPPORTED_ERROR;
-        return NULL;
-        break;
-    }
-}
-
 U_NAMESPACE_END
 
 #endif /* #if !UCONFIG_NO_FORMATTING */
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/numfmt.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/numfmt.cpp
index 83294584c93..3feb5cb998e 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/numfmt.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/numfmt.cpp
@@ -736,47 +736,10 @@ NumberFormat::makeInstance(const Locale& desiredLocale,
         f = NULL;
         return NULL;
     }
-    uprv_strcpy(f->validLocale, numberPatterns.getLocale(ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, status).getName());
-    uprv_strcpy(f->actualLocale, numberPatterns.getLocale(ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE, status).getName());
+    f->setLocales(numberPatterns);
     return f;
 }
 
-Locale 
-NumberFormat::getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const 
-{
-  switch(type) {
-  case ULOC_VALID_LOCALE:
-    return Locale(validLocale);
-    break;
-  case ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE:
-    return Locale(actualLocale);
-    break;
-  default:
-    status = U_UNSUPPORTED_ERROR;
-    return Locale("");
-    break;
-  }
-}
-
-
-const char* 
-NumberFormat::getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const
-{
-  switch(type) {
-  case ULOC_VALID_LOCALE:
-    return validLocale;
-    break;
-  case ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE:
-    return actualLocale;
-    break;
-  default:
-    status = U_UNSUPPORTED_ERROR;
-    return NULL;
-    break;
-  }
-}
-
-
 U_NAMESPACE_END
 
 // defined in ucln_cmn.h
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/rbnf.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/rbnf.cpp
index 2060c88bdbe..fde2fbf21a8 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/rbnf.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/rbnf.cpp
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ RuleBasedNumberFormat::RuleBasedNumberFormat(URBNFRuleSetTag tag, const Locale&
     //    UResourceBundle* yuck = ures_getByKey(nfrb, fmt_tag, NULL, &status);
     //    const UChar* description = ures_getString(yuck, &len, &status);
     if (U_SUCCESS(status)) {
-      uprv_strcpy(validLocale, ures_getLocaleByType(nfrb, ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, &status));
-      uprv_strcpy(actualLocale, ures_getLocaleByType(nfrb, ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE, &status));
-      const UChar* description = ures_getStringByKey(nfrb, fmt_tag, &len, &status);
+        setLocaleIDs(ures_getLocaleByType(nfrb, ULOC_VALID_LOCALE, &status),
+                     ures_getLocaleByType(nfrb, ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE, &status));
+        const UChar* description = ures_getStringByKey(nfrb, fmt_tag, &len, &status);
         UnicodeString desc(description, len);
         UParseError perror;
         init (desc, perror, status);
@@ -454,9 +454,6 @@ RuleBasedNumberFormat::init(const UnicodeString& rules, UParseError& /* pErr */,
         return;
     }
 
-    validLocale[0] = 0;
-    actualLocale[0] = 0;
-
     UnicodeString description(rules);
     if (!description.length()) {
         status = U_MEMORY_ALLOCATION_ERROR;
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/smpdtfmt.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/smpdtfmt.cpp
index d467577819b..bbaeb72dba3 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/smpdtfmt.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/smpdtfmt.cpp
@@ -292,6 +292,8 @@ void SimpleDateFormat::construct(EStyle timeStyle,
         return;
     }
 
+    setLocales(dateTimePatterns);
+
     // create a symbols object from the locale
     initializeSymbols(locale,fCalendar, status);
     if (U_FAILURE(status)) return;
@@ -1562,40 +1564,6 @@ void SimpleDateFormat::adoptCalendar(Calendar* calendarToAdopt)
   initializeDefaultCentury();  // we need a new century (possibly)
 }
 
-Locale 
-SimpleDateFormat::getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const 
-{
-  switch(type) {
-  case ULOC_VALID_LOCALE:
-    return Locale(fSymbols->validLocale);
-    break;
-  case ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE:
-    return Locale(fSymbols->actualLocale);
-    break;
-  default:
-    status = U_UNSUPPORTED_ERROR;
-    return Locale("");
-  }
-}
-
-const char* 
-SimpleDateFormat::getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const
-{
-  switch(type) {
-  case ULOC_VALID_LOCALE:
-    return fSymbols->validLocale;
-    break;
-  case ULOC_ACTUAL_LOCALE:
-    return fSymbols->actualLocale;
-    break;
-  default:
-    status = U_UNSUPPORTED_ERROR;
-    return NULL;
-    break;
-  }
-}
-
-
 U_NAMESPACE_END
 
 #endif /* #if !UCONFIG_NO_FORMATTING */
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/ucal.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/ucal.cpp
index fb973e44191..55f43a94962 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/ucal.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/ucal.cpp
@@ -473,10 +473,13 @@ ucal_getLimit(    const    UCalendar*              cal,
 U_CAPI const char * U_EXPORT2
 ucal_getLocaleByType(const UCalendar *cal, ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode* status) 
 {
-  if(cal == NULL) {
-    return NULL;
-  }
-  return ((Calendar*)cal)->getLocaleInternal(type, *status);
+    if (cal == NULL) {
+        if (U_SUCCESS(*status)) {
+            *status = U_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT_ERROR;
+        }
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return ((Calendar*)cal)->getLocaleID(type, *status);
 }
 
 #endif /* #if !UCONFIG_NO_FORMATTING */
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/udat.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/udat.cpp
index b69922c4a1b..5762f60b8e9 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/udat.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/udat.cpp
@@ -578,9 +578,12 @@ udat_getLocaleByType(const UDateFormat *fmt,
                      ULocDataLocaleType type,
                      UErrorCode* status)
 {
-  if(fmt==NULL){
-      return NULL;
-  }
-  return ((Format *)fmt)->getLocaleInternal(type, *status);
+    if (fmt == NULL) {
+        if (U_SUCCESS(*status)) {
+            *status = U_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT_ERROR;
+        }
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return ((Format*)fmt)->getLocaleID(type, *status);
 }
 #endif /* #if !UCONFIG_NO_FORMATTING */
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/umsg.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/umsg.cpp
index 6003cc7bd33..16184427be5 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/umsg.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/umsg.cpp
@@ -590,10 +590,13 @@ umsg_getLocaleByType(const UMessageFormat *fmt,
                      ULocDataLocaleType type,
                      UErrorCode* status)
 {
-  if(fmt==NULL){
-      return NULL;
-  }
-  return ((Format *)fmt)->getLocaleInternal(type, *status);
+    if (fmt == NULL) {
+        if (U_SUCCESS(*status)) {
+            *status = U_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT_ERROR;
+        }
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return ((Format*)fmt)->getLocaleID(type, *status);
 }
 
 #endif /* #if !UCONFIG_NO_FORMATTING */
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/calendar.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/calendar.h
index 1f3af293598..dcdf499c96a 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/calendar.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/calendar.h
@@ -1998,6 +1998,7 @@ private:
      */
     static uint8_t julianDayToDayOfWeek(double julian);
 
+ private:
     char validLocale[ULOC_FULLNAME_CAPACITY];
     char actualLocale[ULOC_FULLNAME_CAPACITY];
 
@@ -2085,7 +2086,7 @@ private:
      *  @return the locale
      *  @internal
      */
-    virtual const char* getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const;
+    virtual const char* getLocaleID(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const;
 
 };
 
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/datefmt.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/datefmt.h
index b611763358b..22b82eebff7 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/datefmt.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/datefmt.h
@@ -602,15 +602,6 @@ public:
      */
     virtual void setTimeZone(const TimeZone& zone);
 
-    
-    /** Get the locale for this date format object. You can choose between valid and actual locale.
-     *  @param type type of the locale we're looking for (valid or actual) 
-     *  @param status error code for the operation
-     *  @return the locale
-     *  @draft ICU 2.8
-     */
-    virtual Locale getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const = 0;
-
 protected:
     /**
      * Default constructor.  Creates a DateFormat with no Calendar or NumberFormat
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/dcfmtsym.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/dcfmtsym.h
index d2ac614ea6e..35d2d4b9cbb 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/dcfmtsym.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/dcfmtsym.h
@@ -202,6 +202,13 @@ public:
      */
     inline Locale getLocale() const;
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the locale for this object. Two flavors are available:
+     * valid and actual locale.
+     * @draft ICU 2.8
+     */
+    Locale getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const;
+
     /**
      * ICU "poor man's RTTI", returns a UClassID for the actual class.
      *
@@ -287,6 +294,8 @@ private:
 
     Locale locale;
 
+    char actualLocale[ULOC_FULLNAME_CAPACITY];
+    char validLocale[ULOC_FULLNAME_CAPACITY];
 };
 
 // -------------------------------------
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/dtfmtsym.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/dtfmtsym.h
index 578776960d1..378c8ca9578 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/dtfmtsym.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/dtfmtsym.h
@@ -310,6 +310,13 @@ public:
      */
     void setLocalPatternChars(const UnicodeString& newLocalPatternChars);
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the locale for this object. Two flavors are available:
+     * valid and actual locale.
+     * @draft ICU 2.8
+     */
+    Locale getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const;
+
     /**
      * ICU "poor man's RTTI", returns a UClassID for the actual class.
      *
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/format.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/format.h
index c12bcd635e0..7ebc30326b9 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/format.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/format.h
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
 #include "unicode/locid.h"
 
 U_NAMESPACE_BEGIN
+
+class ResourceBundle;
+
 /**
  * Base class for all formats.  This is an abstract base class which
  * specifies the protocol for classes which convert other objects or
@@ -239,7 +242,7 @@ public:
      *  @return the locale
      *  @draft ICU 2.8
      */
-    virtual Locale getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const = 0;
+    Locale getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const;
 
     /** Get the locale for this format object. You can choose between valid and actual locale.
      *  @param type type of the locale we're looking for (valid or actual) 
@@ -247,7 +250,13 @@ public:
      *  @return the locale
      *  @internal
      */
-    virtual const char* getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const = 0;
+    const char* getLocaleID(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const;
+
+ protected:
+    
+    void setLocales(const ResourceBundle& res);
+
+    void setLocaleIDs(const char* valid, const char* actual);
 
 protected:
     /**
@@ -278,6 +287,10 @@ protected:
     static void syntaxError(const UnicodeString& pattern,
                             int32_t pos,
                             UParseError& parseError);
+
+ private:
+    char actualLocale[ULOC_FULLNAME_CAPACITY];
+    char validLocale[ULOC_FULLNAME_CAPACITY];
 };
 
 U_NAMESPACE_END
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/msgfmt.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/msgfmt.h
index a86ea4beab2..0415cd4890b 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/msgfmt.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/msgfmt.h
@@ -595,26 +595,6 @@ public:
      */
     static UClassID getStaticClassID(void);
     
-    /** Get the locale for this message format object. You can choose between valid and actual locale.
-     *  In the case of message format, both locales are the same as the locale passed during the
-     *  construction.
-     *  @param type type of the locale we're looking for (valid or actual) 
-     *  @param status error code for the operation
-     *  @return the locale
-     *  @draft ICU 2.8
-     */
-    virtual Locale getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const;
-
-    /** Get the locale for this message format object. You can choose between valid and actual locale.
-     *  In the case of message format, both locales are the same as the locale passed during the
-     *  construction.
-     *  @param type type of the locale we're looking for (valid or actual) 
-     *  @param status error code for the operation
-     *  @return the locale
-     *  @internal
-     */
-    virtual const char* getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const;
-
 private:
 
     Locale              fLocale;
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/numfmt.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/numfmt.h
index f43a92c03ef..d410dca97ec 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/numfmt.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/numfmt.h
@@ -616,22 +616,6 @@ public:
      */
     const UChar* getCurrency() const;
 
-    /** Get the locale for this numeric format object. You can choose between valid and actual locale.
-     *  @param type type of the locale we're looking for (valid or actual) 
-     *  @param status error code for the operation
-     *  @return the locale
-     *  @draft ICU 2.8
-     */
-    virtual Locale getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const;
-
-    /** Get the locale for this numeric format object. You can choose between valid and actual locale.
-     *  @param type type of the locale we're looking for (valid or actual) 
-     *  @param status error code for the operation
-     *  @return the locale
-     *  @internal
-     */
-    virtual const char* getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const;
-
 public:
 
     /**
@@ -671,10 +655,6 @@ private:
     static const int32_t fgMaxIntegerDigits;
     static const int32_t fgMinIntegerDigits;
 
-protected:
-    char validLocale[ULOC_FULLNAME_CAPACITY];
-    char actualLocale[ULOC_FULLNAME_CAPACITY];
-
 private:
 
     enum EStyles {
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/smpdtfmt.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/smpdtfmt.h
index da3c39b08f7..96314a86c62 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/smpdtfmt.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/smpdtfmt.h
@@ -583,22 +583,6 @@ public:
      */
     virtual void adoptCalendar(Calendar* calendarToAdopt);
 
-    /** Get the locale for this date format object. You can choose between valid and actual locale.
-     *  @param type type of the locale we're looking for (valid or actual) 
-     *  @param status error code for the operation
-     *  @return the locale
-     *  @draft ICU 2.8
-     */
-    virtual Locale getLocale(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode& status) const;
-
-    /** Get the locale for this date format object. You can choose between valid and actual locale.
-     *  @param type type of the locale we're looking for (valid or actual) 
-     *  @param status error code for the operation
-     *  @return the locale
-     *  @internal
-     */
-    virtual const char* getLocaleInternal(ULocDataLocaleType type, UErrorCode &status) const;
-
 private:
     friend class DateFormat;
 
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unum.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/unum.cpp
index 060625b3375..bac114dc134 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unum.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unum.cpp
@@ -661,10 +661,13 @@ unum_getLocaleByType(const UNumberFormat *fmt,
                      ULocDataLocaleType type,
                      UErrorCode* status)
 {
-  if(fmt==NULL){
-      return NULL;
-  }
-  return ((Format *)fmt)->getLocaleInternal(type, *status);
+    if (fmt == NULL) {
+        if (U_SUCCESS(*status)) {
+            *status = U_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT_ERROR;
+        }
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    return ((Format*)fmt)->getLocaleID(type, *status);
 }
 
 #endif /* #if !UCONFIG_NO_FORMATTING */