diff --git a/app/components/channel_intro/channel_intro.js b/app/components/channel_intro/channel_intro.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..863a4a016
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/components/channel_intro/channel_intro.js
@@ -0,0 +1,333 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2017-present Mattermost, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
+// See License.txt for license information.
+
+import React, {PropTypes, PureComponent} from 'react';
+import {
+    StyleSheet,
+    Text,
+    View
+} from 'react-native';
+import {getFullName} from 'mattermost-redux/utils/user_utils';
+import {Constants} from 'mattermost-redux/constants';
+import {injectIntl, intlShape} from 'react-intl';
+
+import ProfilePicture from 'app/components/profile_picture';
+import {changeOpacity, makeStyleSheetFromTheme} from 'app/utils/theme';
+
+class ChannelIntro extends PureComponent {
+    static propTypes = {
+        currentChannel: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
+        currentChannelMembers: PropTypes.array.isRequired,
+        currentUser: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
+        intl: intlShape.isRequired,
+        theme: PropTypes.object.isRequired
+    };
+
+    getDisplayName = (member) => {
+        if (!member) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        const displayName = getFullName(member);
+
+        if (!displayName) {
+            return member.username;
+        }
+
+        return displayName;
+    };
+
+    buildProfiles = () => {
+        const {currentChannelMembers, theme} = this.props;
+        const style = getStyleSheet(theme);
+
+        return currentChannelMembers.map((member) => (
+            <View
+                key={member.id}
+                style={style.profile}
+            >
+                <ProfilePicture
+                    user={member}
+                    size={64}
+                    statusBorderWidth={2}
+                    statusSize={25}
+                    statusIconSize={15}
+                />
+            </View>
+        ));
+    }
+
+    buildNames = () => {
+        const {currentChannelMembers, theme} = this.props;
+        const style = getStyleSheet(theme);
+
+        const names = currentChannelMembers.map((member) => this.getDisplayName(member));
+
+        return <Text style={style.displayName}>{names.join(', ')}</Text>;
+    }
+
+    buildDMContent = () => {
+        const {currentChannelMembers, intl, theme} = this.props;
+        const style = getStyleSheet(theme);
+        const teammate = this.getDisplayName(currentChannelMembers[0]);
+
+        return (
+            <Text style={style.message}>
+                {intl.formatMessage({
+                    id: 'mobile.intro_messages.DM',
+                    defaultMessage: 'This is the start of your direct message history with {teammate}. Direct messages and files shared here are not shown to people outside this area.'
+                }, {
+                    teammate
+                })}
+            </Text>
+        );
+    }
+
+    buildGMContent = () => {
+        const {intl, theme} = this.props;
+        const style = getStyleSheet(theme);
+
+        return (
+            <Text style={style.message}>
+                {intl.formatMessage({
+                    id: 'intro_messages.group_message',
+                    defaultMessage: 'This is the start of your group message history with these teammates. Messages and files shared here are not shown to people outside this area.'
+                })}
+            </Text>
+        );
+    }
+
+    buildOpenChannelContent = () => {
+        const {currentChannel, currentChannelMembers, currentUser, intl, theme} = this.props;
+        const style = getStyleSheet(theme);
+
+        const date = intl.formatDate(currentChannel.create_at, {
+            year: 'numeric',
+            month: 'long',
+            day: 'numeric'
+        });
+
+        let mainMessageIntl;
+        if (currentChannel.creator_id) {
+            const creator = currentChannel.creator_id === currentUser.id ? currentUser : currentChannelMembers[currentChannel.creator_id];
+            const creatorName = this.getDisplayName(creator);
+            mainMessageIntl = {
+                id: 'intro_messages.creator',
+                defaultMessage: 'This is the start of the {name} {type}, created by {creator} on {date}.',
+                values: {
+                    name: currentChannel.display_name,
+                    creator: creatorName,
+                    date,
+                    type: intl.formatMessage({
+                        id: 'intro_messages.channel',
+                        defaultMessage: 'channel'
+                    })
+                }
+            };
+        } else {
+            mainMessageIntl = {
+                id: 'intro_messages.noCreator',
+                defaultMessage: 'This is the start of the {name} {type}, created on {date}.',
+                values: {
+                    name: currentChannel.display_name,
+                    date,
+                    type: intl.formatMessage({
+                        id: 'intro_messages.channel',
+                        defaultMessage: 'channel'
+                    })
+                }
+            };
+        }
+
+        const mainMessage = intl.formatMessage({
+            id: mainMessageIntl.id,
+            defaultMessage: mainMessageIntl.defaultMessage
+        }, mainMessageIntl.values);
+
+        const anyMemberMessage = intl.formatMessage({
+            id: 'intro_messages.anyMember',
+            defaultMessage: ' Any member can join and read this channel.'
+        });
+
+        return (
+            <View>
+                <Text style={style.channelTitle}>
+                    {intl.formatMessage({
+                        id: 'intro_messages.beginning',
+                        defaultMessage: 'Beginning of {name}'
+                    }, {
+                        name: currentChannel.display_name
+                    })}
+                </Text>
+                <Text style={style.message}>
+                    {`${mainMessage} ${anyMemberMessage}`}
+                </Text>
+            </View>
+        );
+    }
+
+    buildPrivateChannelContent = () => {
+        const {currentChannel, currentChannelMembers, currentUser, intl, theme} = this.props;
+        const style = getStyleSheet(theme);
+
+        const creator = currentChannel.creator_id === currentUser.id ? currentUser : currentChannelMembers[currentChannel.creator_id];
+        const creatorName = this.getDisplayName(creator);
+        const date = intl.formatDate(currentChannel.create_at, {
+            year: 'numeric',
+            month: 'long',
+            day: 'numeric'
+        });
+
+        const mainMessage = intl.formatMessage({
+            id: 'intro_messages.creator',
+            defaultMessage: 'This is the start of the {name} {type}, created by {creator} on {date}.'
+        }, {
+            name: currentChannel.display_name,
+            creator: creatorName,
+            date,
+            type: intl.formatMessage({
+                id: 'intro_messages.group',
+                defaultMessage: 'private channel'
+            })
+        });
+
+        const onlyInvitedMessage = intl.formatMessage({
+            id: 'intro_messages.onlyInvited',
+            defaultMessage: ' Only invited members can see this private channel.'
+        });
+
+        return (
+            <View>
+                <Text style={style.channelTitle}>
+                    {intl.formatMessage({
+                        id: 'intro_messages.beginning',
+                        defaultMessage: 'Beginning of {name}'
+                    }, {
+                        name: currentChannel.display_name
+                    })}
+                </Text>
+                <Text style={style.message}>
+                    {`${mainMessage} ${onlyInvitedMessage}`}
+                </Text>
+            </View>
+        );
+    }
+
+    buildTownSquareContent = () => {
+        const {currentChannel, intl, theme} = this.props;
+        const style = getStyleSheet(theme);
+
+        return (
+            <View>
+                <Text style={style.channelTitle}>
+                    {intl.formatMessage({
+                        id: 'intro_messages.beginning',
+                        defaultMessage: 'Beginning of {name}'
+                    }, {
+                        name: currentChannel.display_name
+                    })}
+                </Text>
+                <Text style={style.channelWelcome}>
+                    {intl.formatMessage({
+                        id: 'mobile.intro_messages.default_welcome',
+                        defaultMessage: 'Welcome to {name}!'
+                    }, {
+                        name: currentChannel.display_name
+                    })}
+                </Text>
+                <Text style={style.message}>
+                    {intl.formatMessage({
+                        id: 'mobile.intro_messages.default_message',
+                        defaultMessage: 'This is the first channel teammates see when they sign up - use it for posting updates everyone needs to know.'
+                    })}
+                </Text>
+            </View>
+        );
+    }
+
+    buildContent = () => {
+        const {currentChannel} = this.props;
+
+        switch (currentChannel.type) {
+        default:
+        case Constants.DM_CHANNEL:
+            return this.buildDMContent();
+
+        case Constants.GM_CHANNEL:
+            return this.buildGMContent();
+
+        case Constants.OPEN_CHANNEL: {
+            if (currentChannel.name === Constants.DEFAULT_CHANNEL) {
+                return this.buildTownSquareContent();
+            }
+
+            return this.buildOpenChannelContent();
+        }
+
+        case Constants.PRIVATE_CHANNEL:
+            return this.buildPrivateChannelContent();
+
+        }
+    }
+
+    render() {
+        const {theme} = this.props;
+
+        const style = getStyleSheet(theme);
+
+        return (
+            <View style={style.container}>
+                <View style={style.profilesContainer}>
+                    {this.buildProfiles()}
+                </View>
+                <View style={style.namesContainer}>
+                    {this.buildNames()}
+                </View>
+                <View style={style.contentContainer}>
+                    {this.buildContent()}
+                </View>
+            </View>
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+const getStyleSheet = makeStyleSheetFromTheme((theme) => {
+    return StyleSheet.create({
+        channelTitle: {
+            color: theme.centerChannelColor,
+            fontSize: 17,
+            fontWeight: '600',
+            marginBottom: 12
+        },
+        channelWelcome: {
+            color: theme.centerChannelColor,
+            marginBottom: 12
+        },
+        container: {
+            marginTop: 60,
+            marginHorizontal: 12,
+            marginBottom: 12
+        },
+        displayName: {
+            color: theme.centerChannelColor,
+            fontSize: 15,
+            fontWeight: '600'
+        },
+        message: {
+            color: changeOpacity(theme.centerChannelColor, 0.8),
+            lineHeight: 18
+        },
+        namesContainer: {
+            marginBottom: 12
+        },
+        profile: {
+            marginRight: 12
+        },
+        profilesContainer: {
+            flexDirection: 'row',
+            marginBottom: 12
+        }
+    });
+});
+
+export default injectIntl(ChannelIntro);
diff --git a/app/components/channel_intro/index.js b/app/components/channel_intro/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..04c642e0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/components/channel_intro/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2017-present Mattermost, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
+// See License.txt for license information.
+
+import {bindActionCreators} from 'redux';
+import {connect} from 'react-redux';
+import {Constants} from 'mattermost-redux/constants';
+import {getCurrentChannel} from 'mattermost-redux/selectors/entities/channels';
+import {getCurrentUser, getProfilesInCurrentChannel} from 'mattermost-redux/selectors/entities/users';
+
+import {getTheme} from 'app/selectors/preferences';
+
+import ChannelIntro from './channel_intro';
+
+function mapStateToProps(state) {
+    const currentChannel = getCurrentChannel(state);
+    const currentUser = getCurrentUser(state);
+
+    let currentChannelMembers = [];
+    if (currentChannel.type === Constants.DM_CHANNEL) {
+        const otherChannelMember = currentChannel.name.split('__').find((m) => m.id !== currentUser.id);
+        currentChannelMembers.push(state.entities.users.profiles[otherChannelMember]);
+    }
+
+    if (currentChannel.type === Constants.GM_CHANNEL) {
+        currentChannelMembers = getProfilesInCurrentChannel(state);
+    }
+
+    return {
+        currentChannel,
+        currentChannelMembers,
+        currentUser,
+        theme: getTheme(state)
+    };
+}
+
+function mapDispatchToProps(dispatch) {
+    // placeholder for invite and set header actions
+    return {
+        actions: bindActionCreators({}, dispatch)
+    };
+}
+
+export default connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)(ChannelIntro);
diff --git a/app/components/post_list/index.js b/app/components/post_list/index.js
index f05db9712..0f02eaf7d 100644
--- a/app/components/post_list/index.js
+++ b/app/components/post_list/index.js
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ import PostList from './post_list';
 
 function mapStateToProps(state, ownProps) {
     return {
-        theme: getTheme(state),
-        ...ownProps
+        ...ownProps,
+        channelIsLoading: state.views.channel.loading,
+        theme: getTheme(state)
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/app/components/post_list/post_list.js b/app/components/post_list/post_list.js
index 14c7ae7ab..3d90222f2 100644
--- a/app/components/post_list/post_list.js
+++ b/app/components/post_list/post_list.js
@@ -4,30 +4,24 @@
 import React, {Component, PropTypes} from 'react';
 import {
     ListView,
-    StyleSheet
+    StyleSheet,
+    View
 } from 'react-native';
+import {Constants} from 'mattermost-redux/constants';
+import {addDatesToPostList} from 'mattermost-redux/utils/post_utils';
 
+import ChannelIntro from 'app/components/channel_intro';
 import Post from 'app/components/post';
 import DateHeader from './date_header';
 import LoadMorePosts from './load_more_posts';
 import NewMessagesDivider from './new_messages_divider';
 
-import {Constants} from 'mattermost-redux/constants';
-import {addDatesToPostList} from 'mattermost-redux/utils/post_utils';
-
-const style = StyleSheet.create({
-    container: {
-        transform: [{rotate: '180deg'}]
-    },
-    row: {
-        transform: [{rotate: '180deg'}]
-    }
-});
-
 const LOAD_MORE_POSTS = 'load-more-posts';
 
 export default class PostList extends Component {
     static propTypes = {
+        channel: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
+        channelIsLoading: PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
         posts: PropTypes.array.isRequired,
         theme: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
         loadMore: PropTypes.func,
@@ -78,6 +72,22 @@ export default class PostList extends Component {
         }
     };
 
+    renderChannelIntro = () => {
+        const {channel, channelIsLoading, posts} = this.props;
+
+        const firstPostHasRendered = channel.total_msg_count ? posts.length > 0 : true;
+        const messageCount = channel.total_msg_count - posts.length;
+        if (channelIsLoading || !firstPostHasRendered || messageCount > Constants.POST_CHUNK_SIZE) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return (
+            <View style={style.row}>
+                <ChannelIntro/>
+            </View>
+        );
+    }
+
     renderRow = (row) => {
         if (row instanceof Date) {
             return this.renderDateHeader(row);
@@ -132,6 +142,7 @@ export default class PostList extends Component {
             <ListView
                 style={style.container}
                 dataSource={this.state.dataSource.cloneWithRows(this.getPostsWithLoadMore())}
+                renderFooter={this.renderChannelIntro}
                 renderRow={this.renderRow}
                 onEndReached={this.loadMore}
                 enableEmptySections={true}
@@ -143,3 +154,12 @@ export default class PostList extends Component {
         );
     }
 }
+
+const style = StyleSheet.create({
+    container: {
+        transform: [{rotate: '180deg'}]
+    },
+    row: {
+        transform: [{rotate: '180deg'}]
+    }
+});
diff --git a/app/scenes/channel/channel_post_list/channel_post_list.js b/app/scenes/channel/channel_post_list/channel_post_list.js
index b46541156..cfb32f5ae 100644
--- a/app/scenes/channel/channel_post_list/channel_post_list.js
+++ b/app/scenes/channel/channel_post_list/channel_post_list.js
@@ -115,7 +115,14 @@ export default class ChannelPostList extends PureComponent {
     };
 
     render() {
-        const {applicationInitializing, channelIsLoading, posts, postsRequests, theme} = this.props;
+        const {
+            applicationInitializing,
+            channel,
+            channelIsLoading,
+            posts,
+            postsRequests,
+            theme
+        } = this.props;
         let component;
         if (!applicationInitializing && !channelIsLoading && posts && (postsRequests.getPosts.status !== RequestStatus.STARTED || !this.state.didInitialPostsLoad)) {
             component = (
@@ -129,6 +136,7 @@ export default class ChannelPostList extends PureComponent {
                     indicateNewMessages={true}
                     currentUserId={this.props.myMember.user_id}
                     lastViewedAt={this.state.lastViewedAt}
+                    channel={channel}
                 />
             );
         } else {
diff --git a/app/store/index.js b/app/store/index.js
index 9a7ce7713..ce393c60a 100644
--- a/app/store/index.js
+++ b/app/store/index.js
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export default function configureStore(initialState) {
             // check to see if the logout request was successful
             store.subscribe(() => {
                 const state = store.getState();
-                if (state.requests.users.logout.status === RequestStatus.SUCCESS && !purging) {
+                if ((state.requests.users.logout.status === RequestStatus.SUCCESS || state.requests.users.logout.status === RequestStatus.FAILURE) && !purging) {
                     purging = true;
 
                     persistor.purge();
diff --git a/assets/base/i18n/en.json b/assets/base/i18n/en.json
index 7288a5568..14b18ba03 100644
--- a/assets/base/i18n/en.json
+++ b/assets/base/i18n/en.json
@@ -1689,6 +1689,9 @@
   "mobile.file_upload.camera": "Take Photo or Video",
   "mobile.file_upload.library": "Photo Library",
   "mobile.file_upload.more": "More",
+  "mobile.intro_messages.default_welcome": "Welcome to {name}!",
+  "mobile.intro_messages.default_message": "This is the first channel teammates see when they sign up - use it for posting updates everyone needs to know.",
+  "mobile.intro_messages.DM": "This is the start of your direct message history with {teammate}. Direct messages and files shared here are not shown to people outside this area.",
   "mobile.loading_channels": "Loading Channels...",
   "mobile.loading_members": "Loading Members...",
   "mobile.loading_posts": "Loading Messages...",