user3667: It seems like mainstream access would be easier if there was a more human readable system for bitcoin addresses. No one has to remember IP addresses, we have servers with databases for that. 
What type of infrastructure is there to send bitcoins to easy-to-remember addresses?
Will it ever be a permanent part of the protocol?

user6767: Yes, check out Onename - it's exactly what you're describing.
It allows users to register usernames and associate those names with Bitcoin addresses.
And the key part is that these usernames are registered in a decentralized namespace according to Open Name System (a decentralized naming protocol).
The decentralized namespace part means that anyone can look up the username-to-Bitcoin-address mappings directly in the blockchain (using something like opendig) and trust that the information is correct.
Further, any wallet or exchange can support "pay by username" or "withdraw by username" just by looking up the data in the blockchain.
Disclosure: I'm one of the creators of onename and ONS.

user19183: http://wantsbtc.com is a dns-like service that forces the user to sign his chosen username to his btc address, thereby proving that they own it.

user13963: The NXT Cryto has a built in alias system:
http://www.nxtcrypto.org/

3667: <p>It seems like mainstream access would be easier if there was a more human readable system for bitcoin addresses. No one has to remember IP addresses, we have servers with databases for that. </p>

<p>What type of infrastructure is there to send bitcoins to easy-to-remember addresses?
Will it ever be a permanent part of the protocol?</p>
 6767: <p>Yes, check out <a href="https://onename.io" rel="nofollow">Onename</a> - it's exactly what you're describing.</p>

<p>It allows users to register usernames and associate those names with Bitcoin addresses.</p>

<p>And the key part is that these usernames are registered in a decentralized namespace according to <a href="http://opennamesystem.org" rel="nofollow">Open Name System</a> (a decentralized naming protocol).</p>

<p>The decentralized namespace part means that anyone can look up the username-to-Bitcoin-address mappings directly in the blockchain (using something like <a href="https://github.com/opennamesystem/opendig" rel="nofollow">opendig</a>) and trust that the information is correct.</p>

<p>Further, any wallet or exchange can support "pay by username" or "withdraw by username" just by looking up the data in the blockchain.</p>

<p>Disclosure: I'm one of the creators of onename and ONS.</p>
 19183: <p><a href="http://wantsbtc.com" rel="nofollow">http://wantsbtc.com</a> is a dns-like service that forces the user to sign his chosen username to his btc address, thereby proving that they own it.</p>
 13963: <p>The NXT Cryto has a built in alias system:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nxtcrypto.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.nxtcrypto.org/</a></p>
