Back in October 2018, Google rolled out new guidelines regarding SMS and Call Permissions. Based on their new policies, only an app that has been selected as a user’s default app for making calls or text messages will be able to access call logs and SMS, respectively. To read more about their announcement, please see the following link:
Excerp: “As part of today’s Google Play Developer Policy update, we’re announcing changes related to SMS and Call Log permissions. Some Android apps ask for permission to access a user’s phone (including call logs) and SMS data. Going forward, Google Play will limit which apps are allowed to ask for these permissions. Only an app that has been selected as a user’s default app for making calls or text messages will be able to access call logs and SMS, respectively.”
Developers who were using these device permissions were asked to secure approval from Google, with explanations on why these permissions are needed. Since Bluecoins uses the SMS permissions for it’s SMS banking transaction feature, we have been working tirelessly since the announcement to gain an exception approval to use this permission.
Unfortunately, Google has denied the request citing SMS is a highly sensitive feature and since the app is not a default SMS handler, and the purpose of the SMS application is deemed not a core functionality of the app. This rejection appears to be not uncommon as news articles have reported rejections like this has been widespread, and has affected many other major apps on the Playstore. Read more about them here (link: Google’s new SMS and call permission policy is crippling apps used by millions).
Because of this, and to prevent any risk of the app being removed from the Playstore, we are complying with Google’s new policy and is dropping the SMS permission as well as any SMS-dependent functionality of the app. This changes will take effect starting with version 7. We are hoping for your understanding and recognize that these changes are beyond our control.
Regardless, we are very committed to make sure that Bluecoins remains the best finance app on the Google Playstore and increase the focus on areas that will improve the app user experience, features and new functionalities.