Index: UPGRADE.txt
===================================================================
--- UPGRADE.txt	(revision 102808)
+++ UPGRADE.txt	(working copy)
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@
 * QUEUE_MEMBER_COUNT() has been deprecated in favor of the QUEUE_MEMBER() function. For
   more information, issue a "show function QUEUE_MEMBER" from the CLI.
 
+* IMPORT() has been deprecated in favor of CHANVAR() which provides an identical
+  interface for reading channel variables.
+
 CDR:
 
 * The cdr_sqlite module has been marked as deprecated in favor of
Index: CHANGES
===================================================================
--- CHANGES	(revision 102808)
+++ CHANGES	(working copy)
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@
      ID for the call (not the Asterisk call ID or unique ID), provided that the
      channel driver supports this. For SIP, you get the SIP call-ID for the
      bridged channel which you can store in the CDR with a custom field.
+  * Added the CHANVAR dialplan function which allows you to read channel variables
+     from or set channel variables on arbitrary active channels.
 
 CLI Changes
 -----------
Index: funcs/func_logic.c
===================================================================
--- funcs/func_logic.c	(revision 102808)
+++ funcs/func_logic.c	(working copy)
@@ -150,6 +150,13 @@
 		AST_APP_ARG(channel);
 		AST_APP_ARG(varname);
 	);
+	static int dep_warning = 0;
+
+	if (!dep_warning) {
+		ast_log(LOG_WARNING, "This has been deprecated in favor of CHANVAR() which has an identical interface.\n");
+		dep_warning = 1;
+	}
+	
 	AST_STANDARD_APP_ARGS(args, data);
 	buf[0] = 0;
 	if (!ast_strlen_zero(args.varname)) {
Index: funcs/func_channel.c
===================================================================
--- funcs/func_channel.c	(revision 102808)
+++ funcs/func_channel.c	(working copy)
@@ -138,6 +138,64 @@
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static int acf_chanvar_read(struct ast_channel *chan, const char *cmd, char *data, char *buf, size_t len)
+{
+	struct ast_channel *chan2;
+	struct ast_str *str;
+	AST_DECLARE_APP_ARGS(args,
+   		AST_APP_ARG(channel);
+		AST_APP_ARG(varname);
+	);
+
+	AST_STANDARD_APP_ARGS(args, data);
+
+	if (ast_strlen_zero(args.channel) || ast_strlen_zero(args.varname)) {
+		ast_log(LOG_ERROR, "Usage: Set(foo=${CHANVAR(<channel>,<variable>)})\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (!(chan2 = ast_get_channel_by_name_locked(args.channel))) {
+		ast_log(LOG_NOTICE, "Channel: %s does not exist!\n", args.channel);
+		return -1;
+	}
+		
+	str = ast_str_alloca(strlen(args.varname) + 4);
+	ast_str_set(&str, 0, "${%s}", args.varname);
+
+	pbx_substitute_variables_helper(chan2, str->str, buf, len);
+
+	ast_channel_unlock(chan2);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int acf_chanvar_write(struct ast_channel *chan, const char *cmd, char *var, const char *value)
+{
+	struct ast_channel *chan2;
+	AST_DECLARE_APP_ARGS(args,
+		AST_APP_ARG(channel);
+		AST_APP_ARG(varname);
+	);
+
+	AST_STANDARD_APP_ARGS(args, var);
+
+	if (ast_strlen_zero(args.channel) || ast_strlen_zero(args.varname)) {
+		ast_log(LOG_ERROR, "Usage: Set(CHANVAR(<channel>,<variable>)=value)\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (!(chan2 = ast_get_channel_by_name_locked(args.channel))) {
+		ast_log(LOG_NOTICE, "Channel: %s does not exist!\n", args.channel);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	
+	pbx_builtin_setvar_helper(chan2, args.varname, value);
+
+	ast_channel_unlock(chan2);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static struct ast_custom_function channel_function = {
 	.name = "CHANNEL",
 	.synopsis = "Gets/sets various pieces of information about the channel.",
@@ -193,14 +251,38 @@
 	.write = func_channel_write,
 };
 
+static struct ast_custom_function chanvar_function = {
+	.name = "CHANVAR",
+	.synopsis =
+    		"Reads or writes a variables from or to another channel.\n",
+	.syntax = "CHANVAR(channel,variable)",
+	.desc =
+		"Reads or writes a variables from or to another channel.\n"
+		"Examples;\n"
+		"Read:  Set(foo=${CHANVAR(${BRIDGEPEER},UNIQUEID)})\n"
+		"Write: Set(CHANVAR(${BRIDGEPEER},UNIQUEID)=${foo})\n",
+	.read = acf_chanvar_read,
+	.write = acf_chanvar_write,
+};
+
 static int unload_module(void)
 {
-	return ast_custom_function_unregister(&channel_function);
+	int res;
+
+	res = ast_custom_function_unregister(&channel_function);
+	res |= ast_custom_function_unregister(&chanvar_function);
+
+	return res;
 }
 
 static int load_module(void)
 {
-	return ast_custom_function_register(&channel_function);
+	int res;
+
+	res = ast_custom_function_register(&channel_function);
+	res |= ast_custom_function_register(&chanvar_function);
+
+	return res;
 }
 
 AST_MODULE_INFO_STANDARD(ASTERISK_GPL_KEY, "Channel information dialplan function");