Android Question Intercept SMS messages without notification Android 4.4

[gawie007]

Hi,

It appears that the ability to intercept and consume SMS messages will not be allowed from Android 4.4 unless the program that we write is the default SMS App.

I came across this on my almost fruitless search to try to delete an SMS from the store.
http://android-developers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/getting-your-sms-apps-ready-for-kitkat.html

My programs will be filling up the SMS stores with meaningless information (to the user) because of this change if my program is not the main receiver OR unless someone has a solution - besides installing older versions of Android.

What are Google thinking?????

 

[Erel]

1) The standard SMS message can get the message if it listens to the SMS_RECEIVED_ACTION. It does make sense however that it will not listen to this action and only listen to the DELIVERY action as it isn't expected to do anything if there is a different app (Hangout for example) that handles incoming messages. I don't think that there is anything you can do about it.

2) You cannot do it programmatically. You can check whether your app is the default app and if not show the dialog asking the user to change the default app:

  Dim context As JavaObject = Activity
   context = context.RunMethod("getContext", Null)
   Dim so As JavaObject
   Dim package As String = so.InitializeStatic("android.provider.Telephony.Sms").RunMethod( _
     "getDefaultSmsPackage", Array As Object(context))
   If package <> "b4a.example" Then
     Dim i As Intent
     i.Initialize("android.provider.Telephony.ACTION_CHANGE_DEFAULT", "")
     i.PutExtra("package", "b4a.example")
     StartActivity(i)
   End If

 

[marcick]

Erel, first of all thanks again for your incredible support. How can you manage b4a development and have time to reply to everybody ?
Do you have 48h days ?

Second, I'm so sad to be in this situation with KitKat that is arriving as update on many devices.
My app will not work properly and I can't see actually a good solution.
Perhaps let my app be the default SMS app and implement code and graphics interface for sending/receiving SMS, but could be a complex task ...
Marco

 

[DonManfred]

Erel has a minimum of 16 cores i suppose

 

[Erel]

You are underclocking me...

 

[DonManfred]

As i said: Erel has a MINIMUM of x Cores....

 

[pxpto]

Turns out you need to manage all the options or it will not be listed. You need to have three services and add this code:

SetReceiverAttribute(service1, android:permission, "android.permission.BROADCAST_SMS")
AddReceiverText(service1, <intent-filter>
  <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.SMS_DELIVER" />
  </intent-filter>
)
SetReceiverAttribute(service2, android:permission, "android.permission.BROADCAST_WAP_PUSH")
AddReceiverText(service2,  <intent-filter>
  <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.WAP_PUSH_DELIVER" />
  <data android:mimeType="application/vnd.wap.mms-message" />
  </intent-filter>
)
SetServiceAttribute(service3, android:permission, "android.permission.SEND_RESPOND_VIA_MESSAGE")
SetServiceAttribute(service3, android:exported, "true")
AddServiceText(service3,  <intent-filter>
  <action android:name="android.intent.action.RESPOND_VIA_MESSAGE" />
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
  <data android:scheme="sms" />
  <data android:scheme="smsto" />
  <data android:scheme="mms" />
  <data android:scheme="mmsto" />
  </intent-filter>
)
AddActivityText(main,
<intent-filter>
  <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />  
  <action android:name="android.intent.action.SENDTO" />
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
  <data android:scheme="sms" />
  <data android:scheme="smsto" />
  <data android:scheme="mms" />
  <data android:scheme="mmsto" />
  </intent-filter>
)

I added this code to my manifest and I have the following compilation error:

Parsing code.                          0.01
Compiling code.                        Error
Module: service1_br not found.

My app has just the Main module and 1 Service. Do I need to create a "service1", "service2" and "service3"? With what code?

 

[marcick]

Yes, create the three services and follow the code (not manifest editor code) here: http://www.b4x.com/android/fo...sms-messages-in-the-background.20103/#content
Make sure to check for the correct Intent.Action.
service1 is for intercepting sms, I never used the other two (still have to understand what do they do)

 

[bsnqt]

     If package <> "b4a.example" Then
     Dim i As Intent
     i.Initialize("android.provider.Telephony.ACTION_CHANGE_DEFAULT", "")
     i.PutExtra("package", "b4a.example")
     StartActivity(i)
   End If

Hi Erel, I have successfully listed my app in the Settings dialog for the user to choose as "Default SMS app" (as per your post, by adding 3 Services and 4 required code snippets in the manifest). It seems that if an app - after it is installed - has 3 Services and has the 4 required codes in manifest file, it will be automatically listed in the Settings.

However, I could not make your code above work. It shows no error but the Settings select dialog does not appear after StartActivity(i) (nothing happened). So if I want to turn on my app as default, I have to go to Settings and select it manually...

Any advice or thought? Thank you very much.

EDIT: Solved. I wrongly put word package instead of "package". Thank you.

 

[lymey]

This may be a silly question, is it possible to amend this part of the code to run in a Service? If not, how can you get the default package?
Thanks!

  Dim context As JavaObject = Activity
   context = context.RunMethod("getContext", Null)
   Dim so As JavaObject
   Dim package As String = so.InitializeStatic("android.provider.Telephony.Sms").RunMethod( _
     "getDefaultSmsPackage", Array As Object(context))

 

[Erel]

Please start a new thread for this question.

 

[KY Leng]

Erel, could you give us a small project that make an sms application as default? I could not make it by follow your block of code

 

[Erel]

There is no simple way to make your application a default application. You need to add the manifest code I posted here: http://www.b4x.com/android/forum/th...t-notification-android-4-4.37171/#post-227969

The user then needs to set your app as the default app: http://www.cnet.com/how-to/manage-default-sms-app-on-android-4-4-kitkat/
However the user will only agree to set your app as the default app if you actually implement all of the features of a messaging app. This will require a large project...

 

[Humberto]

Hi
The code to verify if my program is set as SMS option only work in Android 4.4
I downloaded the project in post #28

Dim context As JavaObject = Activity
   context = context.RunMethod("getContext", Null)
   Dim so As JavaObject
   Dim package As String = so.InitializeStatic("android.provider.Telephony.Sms").RunMethod( _
     "getDefaultSmsPackage", Array As Object(context))
   If package <> "b4a.example" Then
     Dim i As Intent
     i.Initialize("android.provider.Telephony.ACTION_CHANGE_DEFAULT", "")
     i.PutExtra("package", "b4a.example")
     StartActivity(i)
   End If

I get this error with a Samsung S3 with android 4.3

===========================================================
** Activity (main) Create, isFirst = true **
** Activity (main) Resume **
java.lang.RuntimeException: Method: getDefaultSmsPackage not found in: android.provider.Telephony$Sms
at anywheresoftware.b4j.object.JavaObject$MethodCache.getMethod(JavaObject.java:346)
at anywheresoftware.b4j.object.JavaObject.RunMethod(JavaObject.java:97)
at b4a.example.main._button1_click(main.java:326)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:525)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.BA.raiseEvent2(BA.java:175)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.BA.raiseEvent2(BA.java:163)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.BA.raiseEvent(BA.java:159)
at anywheresoftware.b4a.objects.ViewWrapper$1.onClick(ViewWrapper.java:77)
at android.view.View.performClick(View.java:4475)
at android.view.View$PerformClick.run(View.java:18786)
at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:730)
at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:92)
at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:176)
at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5419)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:525)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:1046)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:862)
at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
java.lang.RuntimeException: Method: getDefaultSmsPackage not found in: android.provider.Telephony$Sms


Sorry I found that exist just from API 19

Thanks

 

[marcick]

If I don't say something of stupid, the "defaut sms provider" is related to KitKat and later and does not exist before.
You can check if the user is running Kitkat (and behave accordingly in your program) with this code

Dim p1 As Phone
If p1.SdkVersion>18 Then

Marco

 

[PABLO2013]

Hi I have an application that basically a message is sent to change the color of a panel.
When sending the message from my phone: not notification of Messages and the application works; but when sending the message from a module (SIM900:AT+CMGS="+ 506 ... "), a notification appears of the Recent Messages and blocks the application, when running debug the application service module works reading the message but the execution of the color change does not react because notification Messages blocks the app , how can I do so that does not present the notification . thanks

android 4.1.2

 

[Erel]

Please start a new thread for this question.

 

[DaOel]

I was not able to add it as standard sms app with the proposed manifest changes.

However manifest change worked for me:

AddApplicationText(
        <!-- BroadcastReceiver that listens for incoming SMS messages https://stackoverflow.com/questions/30127564/how-do-i-set-my-app-as-the-default-sms-app -->
        <receiver
           android:name=".SmsReceiver"
            android:permission="android.permission.BROADCAST_SMS">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.SMS_DELIVER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </receiver>

        <!-- BroadcastReceiver that listens for incoming MMS messages -->
        <receiver
            android:name=".MmsReceiver"
            android:permission="android.permission.BROADCAST_WAP_PUSH">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.WAP_PUSH_DELIVER" />
                <data android:mimeType="application/vnd.wap.mms-message" />
            </intent-filter>
        </receiver>

        <!-- Activity that allows the user to send new SMS/MMS messages -->
        <activity android:name=".ComposeSmsActivity">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.SENDTO" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
                <data android:scheme="sms" />
                <data android:scheme="smsto" />
                <data android:scheme="mms" />
                <data android:scheme="mmsto" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>

        <!-- Service that delivers messages from the phone "quick response" -->
        <service
            android:name=".HeadlessSmsSendService"
            android:exported="true"
            android:permission="android.permission.SEND_RESPOND_VIA_MESSAGE">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.RESPOND_VIA_MESSAGE" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                <data android:scheme="sms" />
                <data android:scheme="smsto" />
                <data android:scheme="mms" />
                <data android:scheme="mmsto" />
            </intent-filter>
        </service>
)