diff --git a/addons/portal/mail_mail.py b/addons/portal/mail_mail.py
index 72c8469c042..5b149c1146a 100644
--- a/addons/portal/mail_mail.py
+++ b/addons/portal/mail_mail.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class mail_mail_portal(osv.Model):
             :param partner: browse_record of the specific recipient partner
         """
         if partner:
-            portal_ref = self.pool.get('ir.model.data').get_object_reference(cr, uid, 'portal', 'portal')
+            portal_ref = self.pool.get('ir.model.data').get_object_reference(cr, uid, 'portal', 'portal_group')
             portal_id = portal_ref and portal_ref[1] or False
             url = self._generate_signin_url(cr, uid, partner.id, portal_id, 1234, context=context)
             body = tools.append_content_to_html(mail.body_html, url)
diff --git a/addons/portal/portal.py b/addons/portal/portal.py
index 3672d87cf30..13cde80f849 100644
--- a/addons/portal/portal.py
+++ b/addons/portal/portal.py
@@ -20,196 +20,14 @@
 ##############################################################################
 
 from osv import osv, fields
-from tools.translate import _
-
 
 
 class portal(osv.osv):
+    """ A portal is simply a group of users with the flag 'is_portal' set to True.
+        The flag 'is_portal' makes a user group usable as a portal.
     """
-        A portal is a group of users with specific menu, widgets, and typically
-        restricted access rights.
-    """
-    _name = 'res.portal'
-    _description = 'Portal'
-    _inherits = {'res.groups': 'group_id'}
-
+    _inherit = 'res.groups'
     _columns = {
-        'group_id': fields.many2one('res.groups', required=True, ondelete='cascade',
-            string='Group',
-            help='The group corresponding to this portal'),
-        'url': fields.char('URL',
-            help="The url where portal users can connect to the server"),
-        'home_action_id': fields.many2one('ir.actions.actions',
-            string='Home Action',
-            help="if set, replaces the standard home action (first screen after loggin) for the portal's users"),
-        'menu_action_id': fields.many2one('ir.actions.act_window', readonly=True,
-            # ISSUE: 'ondelete' constraints do not seem effective on this field...
-            string='Menu Action',
-            help="If set, replaces the standard menu for the portal's users"),
-        'parent_menu_id': fields.many2one('ir.ui.menu', ondelete='restrict',
-            string='Parent Menu',
-            help='The menu action opens the submenus of this menu item'),
-        'widget_ids': fields.one2many('res.portal.widget', 'portal_id',
-            string='Widgets',
-            help='Widgets assigned to portal users'),
+        'is_portal': fields.boolean('Portal', help="If checked, this group is usable as a portal."),
     }
 
-    def copy(self, cr, uid, id, values, context=None):
-        """ override copy(): menu_action_id must be different """
-        values['menu_action_id'] = None
-        return super(portal, self).copy(cr, uid, id, values, context)
-
-    def create(self, cr, uid, values, context=None):
-        """ extend create() to assign the portal menu to users """
-        if context is None:
-            context = {}
-
-        # create portal (admin should not be included)
-        context['noadmin'] = True
-        portal_id = super(portal, self).create(cr, uid, values, context)
-
-        # assign menu action and widgets to users
-        if values.get('users') or values.get('menu_action_id'):
-            self._assign_menu(cr, uid, [portal_id], context)
-        if values.get('users') or values.get('widget_ids'):
-            self._assign_widgets(cr, uid, [portal_id], context)
-
-        return portal_id
-
-    def write(self, cr, uid, ids, values, context=None):
-        """ extend write() to reflect changes on users """
-        # first apply portal changes
-        super(portal, self).write(cr, uid, ids, values, context)
-
-        # assign menu action and widgets to users
-        if values.get('users') or values.get('menu_action_id'):
-            self._assign_menu(cr, uid, ids, context)
-        if values.get('users') or values.get('widget_ids'):
-            self._assign_widgets(cr, uid, ids, context)
-
-        # if parent_menu_id has changed, apply the change on menu_action_id
-        if 'parent_menu_id' in values:
-            act_window_obj = self.pool.get('ir.actions.act_window')
-            portals = self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context)
-            action_ids = [p.menu_action_id.id for p in portals if p.menu_action_id]
-            if action_ids:
-                action_values = {'domain': [('parent_id', '=', values['parent_menu_id'])]}
-                act_window_obj.write(cr, uid, action_ids, action_values, context)
-
-        return True
-
-    def _assign_menu(self, cr, uid, ids, context=None):
-        """ assign portal_menu_settings to users of portals (ids) """
-        user_obj = self.pool.get('res.users')
-        for p in self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context):
-            # user menu action = portal menu action if set in portal
-            if p.menu_action_id:
-                user_ids = [u.id for u in p.users if u.id != 1]
-                user_values = {'menu_id': p.menu_action_id.id}
-                user_obj.write(cr, uid, user_ids, user_values, context)
-
-    def _assign_widgets(self, cr, uid, ids, context=None):
-        """ assign portal widgets to users of portals (ids) """
-        widget_user_obj = self.pool.get('res.widget.user')
-        for p in self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context):
-            for w in p.widget_ids:
-                values = {'sequence': w.sequence, 'widget_id': w.widget_id.id}
-                for u in p.users:
-                    if u.id == 1: continue
-                    values['user_id'] = u.id
-                    widget_user_obj.create(cr, uid, values, context)
-
-    def _res_xml_id(self, cr, uid, module, xml_id):
-        """ return the resource id associated to the given xml_id """
-        data_obj = self.pool.get('ir.model.data')
-        data_id = data_obj._get_id(cr, uid, module, xml_id)
-        return data_obj.browse(cr, uid, data_id).res_id
-
-portal()
-
-
-
-class portal_override_menu(osv.osv):
-    """
-        Extend res.portal with a boolean field 'Override Users Menu', that
-        triggers the creation or removal of menu_action_id
-    """
-    _name = 'res.portal'
-    _inherit = 'res.portal'
-
-    def _get_override_menu(self, cr, uid, ids, field_name, arg, context=None):
-        assert field_name == 'override_menu'
-        result = {}
-        for p in self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context):
-            result[p.id] = bool(p.menu_action_id)
-        return result
-
-    def _set_override_menu(self, cr, uid, id, field_name, field_value, arg, context=None):
-        assert field_name == 'override_menu'
-        if field_value:
-            self.create_menu_action(cr, uid, id, context)
-        else:
-            self.write(cr, uid, [id], {'menu_action_id': False}, context)
-
-    def create_menu_action(self, cr, uid, id, context=None):
-        """ create, if necessary, a menu action that opens the menu items below
-            parent_menu_id """
-        p = self.browse(cr, uid, id, context)
-        if not p.menu_action_id:
-            actions_obj = self.pool.get('ir.actions.act_window')
-            parent_id = p.parent_menu_id.id if p.parent_menu_id else False
-            action_values = {
-                'name': _('%s Menu') % p.name,
-                'type': 'ir.actions.act_window',
-                'usage': 'menu',
-                'res_model': 'ir.ui.menu',
-                'view_type': 'tree',
-                'view_id': self._res_xml_id(cr, uid, 'base', 'view_menu'),
-                'domain': [('parent_id', '=', parent_id)],
-            }
-            action_id = actions_obj.create(cr, uid, action_values, context)
-            self.write(cr, uid, [id], {'menu_action_id': action_id}, context)
-
-    _columns = {
-        'override_menu': fields.function(
-            _get_override_menu, fnct_inv=_set_override_menu,
-            type='boolean', string='Override Menu Action of Users',
-            help='Enable this option to override the Menu Action of portal users'),
-    }
-
-portal_override_menu()
-
-
-
-class portal_widget(osv.osv):
-    """
-        Similar to res.widget.user (res_widget.py), but with a portal instead.
-        New users in a portal are assigned the portal's widgets.
-    """
-    _name='res.portal.widget'
-    _description = 'Portal Widgets'
-    _order = 'sequence'
-    _columns = {
-        'sequence': fields.integer('Sequence'),
-        'portal_id': fields.many2one('res.portal', select=1, ondelete='cascade',
-            string='Portal'),
-        'widget_id': fields.many2one('res.widget', required=True, ondelete='cascade',
-            string='Widget'),
-    }
-
-    def create(self, cr, uid, values, context=None):
-        domain = [('portal_id', '=', values.get('portal_id')),
-                  ('widget_id', '=', values.get('widget_id'))]
-        existing = self.search(cr, uid, domain, context=context)
-        if existing:
-            res = existing[0]
-        else:
-            res = super(portal_widget, self).create(cr, uid, values, context=context)
-        return res
-
-portal_widget()
-
-
-
-
-# vim:expandtab:smartindent:tabstop=4:softtabstop=4:shiftwidth=4:
diff --git a/addons/portal/portal_data.xml b/addons/portal/portal_data.xml
index 5edb4bed8c7..a980552a854 100644
--- a/addons/portal/portal_data.xml
+++ b/addons/portal/portal_data.xml
@@ -2,14 +2,6 @@
 <openerp>
     <data noupdate="1">
 
-        <record id="portal" model="res.portal">
-            <field name="name">Portal</field>
-            <field name="group_id" ref="group_portal"/>
-            <field name="override_menu" eval="False"/>
-            <!-- Insert the template user from auth_signup in the portal members group -->
-            <field name="users" eval="[(4,ref('auth_signup.default_template_user'))]"/>
-        </record>
-
         <!-- Mail group for the company's news -->
         <record id="company_news_feed" model="mail.group">
             <field name="name">Company's news</field>
diff --git a/addons/portal/portal_demo.xml b/addons/portal/portal_demo.xml
index 1ace02f3d7d..f4ba8fe2192 100644
--- a/addons/portal/portal_demo.xml
+++ b/addons/portal/portal_demo.xml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
         </record>
 
         <!-- Add the demo user to the portal (and therefore to the portal member group) -->
-        <record id="portal" model="res.portal">
+        <record id="group_portal" model="res.groups">
             <field name="users" eval="[(4,ref('demo_user0'))]"/>
         </record>
 
diff --git a/addons/portal/portal_view.xml b/addons/portal/portal_view.xml
index 5241d7cf54f..abd013d719c 100644
--- a/addons/portal/portal_view.xml
+++ b/addons/portal/portal_view.xml
@@ -21,71 +21,30 @@
             <menuitem name="Projects" id="portal_projects" parent="portal_menu" sequence="40"/>
             <menuitem name="After Sale Services" id="portal_after_sales" parent="portal_menu" sequence="50"/>
 
-        <!-- portal tree view -->
-        <record id="portal_list_view" model="ir.ui.view">
-            <field name="name">Portal List</field>
-            <field name="model">res.portal</field>
+        <!-- extend res.groups search view -->
+        <record id="group_search_view" model="ir.ui.view">
+            <field name="name">Group Search</field>
+            <field name="model">res.groups</field>
+            <field name="inherit_id" ref="base.view_groups_search"/>
             <field name="arch" type="xml">
-                <tree string="Portals">
-                    <field name="name" string="Portal Name"/>
-                </tree>
+                <field name="name" position="after">
+                    <filter string="Portal" help="Portal groups" name="portal_groups"
+                        domain="[('is_portal','=',True)]"/>
+                </field>
             </field>
         </record>
 
-        <!-- portal form view -->
-        <record id="portal_form_view" model="ir.ui.view">
+        <!-- extend res.groups form view -->
+        <record id="group_form_view" model="ir.ui.view">
             <field name="name">Portal Form</field>
-            <field name="model">res.portal</field>
+            <field name="model">res.groups</field>
             <field name="inherit_id" ref="base.view_groups_form"/>
             <field name="arch" type="xml">
-                <page string="Users" position="before">
-                    <page string="Portal">
-                        <group>
-                            <group>
-                                <field name="url" widget="url" string="Portal URL"/>
-                                <field name="home_action_id"/>
-                            </group>
-                            <group>
-                                <field name="override_menu"/>
-                                <field name="parent_menu_id"
-                                    context="{'ir.ui.menu.full_list': True}"/>
-                                <label for="partent_menu_id" colspan="1"/>
-                            </group>
-                            <separator string="Widgets Assigned to Users" colspan="2"/>
-                            <field name="widget_ids" nolabel="1" colspan="2">
-                                <tree string="Widgets" editable="bottom">
-                                    <field name="sequence"/>
-                                    <field name="widget_id"/>
-                                </tree>
-                            </field>
-                        </group>
-                    </page>
-                </page>
+                <field name="name" position="after">
+                    <field name="is_portal"/>
+                </field>
             </field>
         </record>
 
-        <!-- action Administration/Portals/Portals -->
-        <record id="portal_list_action" model="ir.actions.act_window">
-            <field name="name">Portals</field>
-            <field name="res_model">res.portal</field>
-            <field name="view_type">form</field>
-            <field name="view_mode">tree,form</field>
-            <!-- a context is necessary to get the right portal form view -->
-            <field name="context">{'form_view_ref': 'portal.portal_form_view'}</field>
-            <field name="help" type="html">
-              <p class="oe_view_nocontent_create">
-                Click to create a new portal.
-              </p><p>
-                A portal helps defining specific views and rules for a group of
-                users (the portal group).  A portal menu, widgets and specific
-                groups may be assigned to the portal's users.
-              </p>
-            </field>
-        </record>
-
-        <!-- menu Administration/Portals/Portals -->
-        <menuitem name="Portals Settings" id="portal_menu_settings" parent="base.menu_administration"/>
-            <menuitem name="Portals" id="portal_list_menu" parent="portal_menu_settings" action="portal_list_action"/>
-
     </data>
 </openerp>
diff --git a/addons/portal/security/portal_security.xml b/addons/portal/security/portal_security.xml
index 0bf4cb2dcfc..3d5cf47b0be 100644
--- a/addons/portal/security/portal_security.xml
+++ b/addons/portal/security/portal_security.xml
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
         <record id="group_portal" model="res.groups">
             <field name="name">Portal</field>
             <field name="comment">Portal members can access information through the portal menu.  Also, they are chrooted in this specific menu.</field>
-            <!-- Don't use any implied_ids here; this group's behavior is particular -->
+            <field name="is_portal" eval="True"/>
+            <!-- Insert the template user from auth_signup in the portal members group -->
+            <field name="users" eval="[(4,ref('auth_signup.default_template_user'))]"/>
         </record>
 
     </data>
diff --git a/addons/portal/tests/test_portal.py b/addons/portal/tests/test_portal.py
index 2c301228859..809bc131034 100644
--- a/addons/portal/tests/test_portal.py
+++ b/addons/portal/tests/test_portal.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class test_portal(test_mail.TestMailMockups):
         user_admin = self.res_users.browse(cr, uid, uid)
         self.mail_invite = self.registry('mail.wizard.invite')
         base_url = self.registry('ir.config_parameter').get_param(cr, uid, 'web.base.url', default='')
-        portal_ref = self.registry('ir.model.data').get_object_reference(cr, uid, 'portal', 'portal')
+        portal_ref = self.registry('ir.model.data').get_object_reference(cr, uid, 'portal', 'portal_group')
         portal_id = portal_ref and portal_ref[1] or False
 
         # 0 - Admin
diff --git a/addons/portal/wizard/portal_wizard.py b/addons/portal/wizard/portal_wizard.py
index da9d9b4e18d..969f74b5bd8 100644
--- a/addons/portal/wizard/portal_wizard.py
+++ b/addons/portal/wizard/portal_wizard.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class wizard(osv.osv_memory):
 
     _columns = {
         'partner_id': fields.many2one('res.partner', required=True, string="Partner"),
-        'portal_id': fields.many2one('res.portal', required=True,
+        'portal_id': fields.many2one('res.groups', domain=[('is_portal', '=', True)], required=True,
             string='Portal',
             help="The portal in which new users must be added"),
         'user_ids': fields.one2many('res.portal.wizard.user', 'wizard_id',
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ class wizard(osv.osv_memory):
         for address in partner.child_ids:
             _portal_user(address)
         partner_user_ids = self._search_partner_user(cr, uid, partner.id, context=context)
-        portal_users = [u.id for u in self.pool.get('res.portal').browse(cr, uid, portal_id, context=context).group_id.users]
+        portal_users = [u.id for u in self.pool.get('res.groups').browse(cr, uid, portal_id, context=context).users]
         for user in res_user.browse(cr, uid, partner_user_ids, context=context):
             email = user and user.email or False
             has_portal_user = False
@@ -302,17 +302,17 @@ class wizard_user(osv.osv_memory):
         return user_id
 
     def link_portal_user(self, cr, uid, portal_id, user_id, context=None):
-        res_portal = self.pool.get('res.portal')
-        portal = res_portal.browse(cr, uid, portal_id, context=context)
-        portal_user_ids = [u.id for u in portal.group_id.users]
+        res_groups = self.pool.get('res.groups')
+        portal = res_groups.browse(cr, uid, portal_id, context=context)
+        portal_user_ids = [u.id for u in portal.users]
         if user_id not in portal_user_ids:
             return portal.write({'users': [(4, user_id)]}, context=context)
         if user_id in portal_user_ids:
             return False
 
     def unlink_portal_user(self, cr, uid, portal_id, user_id, context=None):
-        res_portal = self.pool.get('res.portal')
-        return res_portal.write(cr, uid, [portal_id], {'users': [(3, user_id)]}, context=context)
+        res_groups = self.pool.get('res.groups')
+        return res_groups.write(cr, uid, [portal_id], {'users': [(3, user_id)]}, context=context)
 
     def unlink_user(self, cr, uid, user_id, context=None):
         #TODO: search portal groups
diff --git a/addons/portal/wizard/share_wizard.py b/addons/portal/wizard/share_wizard.py
index e56e7517348..b1b6e980dec 100644
--- a/addons/portal/wizard/share_wizard.py
+++ b/addons/portal/wizard/share_wizard.py
@@ -119,16 +119,14 @@ class share_wizard_portal(osv.TransientModel):
         # alter the rules of the groups so they can see the shared data
         if wizard_data.group_ids:
             # get the list of portals and the related groups to install their menus.
-            Portals = self.pool.get('res.portal')
-            all_portals = Portals.browse(cr, UID_ROOT, Portals.search(cr, UID_ROOT, [])) #no context!
-            all_portal_group_ids = [p.group_id.id for p in all_portals]
+            res_groups = self.pool.get('res.groups')
+            all_portal_group_ids = res_groups.search(cr, UID_ROOT, [('is_portal', '=', True)])
 
             # populate result lines with the users of each group and
             # setup the menu for portal groups
             for group in wizard_data.group_ids:
                 if group.id in all_portal_group_ids:
-                    portal = all_portals[all_portal_group_ids.index(group.id)]
-                    self._create_shared_data_menu(cr, uid, wizard_data, portal, context=context)
+                    self._create_shared_data_menu(cr, uid, wizard_data, group.id, context=context)
 
                 for user in group.users:
                     new_line = {'user_id': user.id,