diff --git a/addons/account/data/account_data.xml b/addons/account/data/account_data.xml
index 0406efd4526..949d03324f3 100644
--- a/addons/account/data/account_data.xml
+++ b/addons/account/data/account_data.xml
@@ -155,11 +155,13 @@
         <record id="mt_invoice_validated" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Validated</field>
             <field name="res_model">account.invoice</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Invoice validated</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_invoice_paid" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Paid</field>
             <field name="res_model">account.invoice</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Invoice paid</field>
         </record>
     </data>
diff --git a/addons/account_voucher/account_voucher_data.xml b/addons/account_voucher/account_voucher_data.xml
index 440d1c5814a..6329176c6e9 100644
--- a/addons/account_voucher/account_voucher_data.xml
+++ b/addons/account_voucher/account_voucher_data.xml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
         <record id="mt_voucher_state_change" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Status Change</field>
             <field name="res_model">account.voucher</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Status changed</field>
         </record>
 
diff --git a/addons/analytic/analytic_data.xml b/addons/analytic/analytic_data.xml
index 26eb5ae3dd5..042c2162036 100644
--- a/addons/analytic/analytic_data.xml
+++ b/addons/analytic/analytic_data.xml
@@ -6,16 +6,19 @@
         <record id="mt_account_pending" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Contract to Renew</field>
             <field name="res_model">account.analytic.account</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Contract pending</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_account_closed" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Contract Finished</field>
             <field name="res_model">account.analytic.account</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Contract closed</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_account_opened" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Contract Opened</field>
             <field name="res_model">account.analytic.account</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Contract opened</field>
         </record>
 
diff --git a/addons/crm/crm_lead_data.xml b/addons/crm/crm_lead_data.xml
index bb590f49d73..724ec491efe 100644
--- a/addons/crm/crm_lead_data.xml
+++ b/addons/crm/crm_lead_data.xml
@@ -171,11 +171,13 @@
         <record id="mt_lead_stage" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Stage Changed</field>
             <field name="res_model">crm.lead</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Stage changed</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_lead_won" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Opportunity Won</field>
             <field name="res_model">crm.lead</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Opportunity won</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_lead_lost" model="mail.message.subtype">
diff --git a/addons/hr_recruitment/hr_recruitment_data.xml b/addons/hr_recruitment/hr_recruitment_data.xml
index 13736d1442a..a0b16f042bc 100644
--- a/addons/hr_recruitment/hr_recruitment_data.xml
+++ b/addons/hr_recruitment/hr_recruitment_data.xml
@@ -470,11 +470,13 @@
     <record id="mt_stage_changed" model="mail.message.subtype">
         <field name="name">Stage Changed</field>
         <field name="res_model">hr.applicant</field>
+        <field name="default" eval="False"/>
         <field name="description">Stage changed</field>
     </record>
     <record id="mt_applicant_hired" model="mail.message.subtype">
         <field name="name">Applicant Hired</field>
         <field name="res_model">hr.applicant</field>
+        <field name="default" eval="False"/>
         <field name="description">Applicant hired</field>
     </record>
     <record id="mt_applicant_refused" model="mail.message.subtype">
diff --git a/addons/mail/mail_thread.py b/addons/mail/mail_thread.py
index d75a9199369..5ac69eef489 100644
--- a/addons/mail/mail_thread.py
+++ b/addons/mail/mail_thread.py
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ class mail_thread(osv.AbstractModel):
         # subscribe uid unless asked not to
         if not context.get('mail_create_nosubscribe'):
             self.message_subscribe_users(cr, uid, [thread_id], [uid], context=context)
-            self.message_subscribe_from_parent(cr, uid, [thread_id], values.keys(), context=context)
+            self.message_auto_subscribe(cr, uid, [thread_id], values.keys(), context=context)
 
         # automatic logging unless asked not to (mainly for various testing purpose)
         if not context.get('mail_create_nolog'):
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ class mail_thread(osv.AbstractModel):
 
         # Perform write, update followers
         result = super(mail_thread, self).write(cr, uid, ids, values, context=context)
-        self.message_subscribe_from_parent(cr, uid, ids, values.keys(), context=context)
+        self.message_auto_subscribe(cr, uid, ids, values.keys(), context=context)
 
         # Perform the tracking
         if tracked_fields:
@@ -1069,7 +1069,24 @@ class mail_thread(osv.AbstractModel):
             self.check_access_rights(cr, uid, 'write')
         return self.write(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, ids, {'message_follower_ids': [(3, pid) for pid in partner_ids]}, context=context)
 
-    def message_subscribe_from_parent(self, cr, uid, ids, updated_fields, context=None):
+    def _message_get_auto_subscribe_fields(self, cr, uid, updated_fields, auto_follow_fields=['user_id'], context=None):
+        """ Returns the list of relational fields linking to res.users that should
+            trigger an auto subscribe. The default list checks for the fields
+            - called 'user_id'
+            - linking to res.users
+            - with track_visibility set
+            In OpenERP V7, this is sufficent for all major addon such as opportunity,
+            project, issue, recruitment, sale.
+            Override this method if a custom behavior is needed about fields
+            that automatically subscribe users.
+        """
+        user_field_lst = []
+        for name, column_info in self._all_columns.items():
+            if name in auto_follow_fields and name in updated_fields and getattr(column_info.column, 'track_visibility', False) and column_info.column._obj == 'res.users':
+                user_field_lst.append(name)
+        return user_field_lst
+
+    def message_auto_subscribe(self, cr, uid, ids, updated_fields, context=None):
         """
             1. fetch project subtype related to task (parent_id.res_model = 'project.task')
             2. for each project subtype: subscribe the follower to the task
@@ -1077,13 +1094,16 @@ class mail_thread(osv.AbstractModel):
         subtype_obj = self.pool.get('mail.message.subtype')
         follower_obj = self.pool.get('mail.followers')
 
+        # fetch auto_follow_fields
+        user_field_lst = self._message_get_auto_subscribe_fields(cr, uid, updated_fields, context=context)
+
         # fetch related record subtypes
         related_subtype_ids = subtype_obj.search(cr, uid, ['|', ('res_model', '=', False), ('parent_id.res_model', '=', self._name)], context=context)
         subtypes = subtype_obj.browse(cr, uid, related_subtype_ids, context=context)
         default_subtypes = [subtype for subtype in subtypes if subtype.res_model == False]
         related_subtypes = [subtype for subtype in subtypes if subtype.res_model != False]
         relation_fields = set([subtype.relation_field for subtype in subtypes if subtype.relation_field != False])
-        if not related_subtypes or not any(relation in updated_fields for relation in relation_fields):
+        if (not related_subtypes or not any(relation in updated_fields for relation in relation_fields)) and not user_field_lst:
             return True
 
         for record in self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context=context):
@@ -1105,20 +1125,24 @@ class mail_thread(osv.AbstractModel):
                 for follower in follower_obj.browse(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, follower_ids, context=context):
                     new_followers.setdefault(follower.partner_id.id, set()).add(subtype.parent_id.id)
 
-            if not parent_res_id or not parent_model:
-                continue
+            if parent_res_id and parent_model:
+                for subtype in default_subtypes:
+                    follower_ids = follower_obj.search(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, [
+                        ('res_model', '=', parent_model),
+                        ('res_id', '=', parent_res_id),
+                        ('subtype_ids', 'in', [subtype.id])
+                        ], context=context)
+                    for follower in follower_obj.browse(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, follower_ids, context=context):
+                        new_followers.setdefault(follower.partner_id.id, set()).add(subtype.id)
 
-            for subtype in default_subtypes:
-                follower_ids = follower_obj.search(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, [
-                    ('res_model', '=', parent_model),
-                    ('res_id', '=', parent_res_id),
-                    ('subtype_ids', 'in', [subtype.id])
-                    ], context=context)
-                for follower in follower_obj.browse(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, follower_ids, context=context):
-                    new_followers.setdefault(follower.partner_id.id, set()).add(subtype.id)
+            # add followers coming from res.users relational fields that are tracked
+            user_ids = [getattr(record, name).id for name in user_field_lst if getattr(record, name)]
+            for partner_id in [user.partner_id.id for user in self.pool.get('res.users').browse(cr, SUPERUSER_ID, user_ids, context=context)]:
+                new_followers.setdefault(partner_id, None)
 
             for pid, subtypes in new_followers.items():
-                self.message_subscribe(cr, uid, [record.id], [pid], list(subtypes), context=context)
+                subtypes = list(subtypes) if subtypes is not None else None
+                self.message_subscribe(cr, uid, [record.id], [pid], subtypes, context=context)
         return True
 
     #------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/addons/project/project_data.xml b/addons/project/project_data.xml
index 56a21342d9e..025327d70b3 100644
--- a/addons/project/project_data.xml
+++ b/addons/project/project_data.xml
@@ -94,16 +94,19 @@
         <record id="mt_task_blocked" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Task Blocked</field>
             <field name="res_model">project.task</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Task blocked</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_task_closed" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Task Done</field>
             <field name="res_model">project.task</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Task closed</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_task_stage" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Stage Changed</field>
             <field name="res_model">project.task</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Stage changed</field>
         </record>
         <!-- Project-related subtypes for messaging / Chatter -->
diff --git a/addons/project_issue/project_issue_data.xml b/addons/project_issue/project_issue_data.xml
index 55ec90b430d..591e6c04878 100644
--- a/addons/project_issue/project_issue_data.xml
+++ b/addons/project_issue/project_issue_data.xml
@@ -59,16 +59,19 @@ Access all issues from the top Project menu, and access the issues of a specific
         <record id="mt_issue_blocked" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Issue Blocked</field>
             <field name="res_model">project.issue</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Issue blocked</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_issue_closed" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Issue Closed</field>
             <field name="res_model">project.issue</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Issue closed</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_issue_stage" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Stage Changed</field>
             <field name="res_model">project.issue</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Stage changed</field>
         </record>
         <!-- Project-related subtypes for messaging / Chatter -->
diff --git a/addons/purchase/purchase_data.xml b/addons/purchase/purchase_data.xml
index 72c3f5ab044..ceb43ba281a 100644
--- a/addons/purchase/purchase_data.xml
+++ b/addons/purchase/purchase_data.xml
@@ -52,10 +52,12 @@
         <!-- Purchase-related subtypes for messaging / Chatter -->
         <record id="mt_rfq_confirmed" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">RFQ Confirmed</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="res_model">purchase.order</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_rfq_approved" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">RFQ Approved</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="res_model">purchase.order</field>
         </record>
 
diff --git a/addons/sale/sale_data.xml b/addons/sale/sale_data.xml
index 6d7cd043c39..a0e93cbf581 100644
--- a/addons/sale/sale_data.xml
+++ b/addons/sale/sale_data.xml
@@ -48,11 +48,13 @@
         <record id="mt_order_sent" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Quotation send</field>
             <field name="res_model">sale.order</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Quotation send</field>
         </record>
         <record id="mt_order_confirmed" model="mail.message.subtype">
             <field name="name">Sales Order Confirmed</field>
             <field name="res_model">sale.order</field>
+            <field name="default" eval="False"/>
             <field name="description">Quotation confirmed</field>
         </record>