How to track the messages in Android?

Question

I want to develop an app which tracks the sent/received SMSs. I mean, when a user sends a message from its device, the message detail should be saved to a table provided by me. Similarly, when the device receives any SMS, then that also should be saved into a table provided by me.

Note that the user uses the default message application of Android to send message. I mean I am not integrating my application with the default message application. I just need to keep track of all messages sent from that application as Android keeps track of all sent messages in Sent Message folder of its Message app.

How would I do this? Please help me. I don't need answers, but I need some clue to do it.

Please don't suggest to read the messages from Inbox and Outbox etc. Because I want to save the messages when user sends/ receives it. Not after sends or receives it.

What have you tried and what's the problem you are facing? Just keep it simple. — Andro Selva, Jun 06 '12 at 08:01
@AndroSelva I don't have any clue how to do that. I don't want answer, but I want some clue. — Chandra Sekhar, Jun 06 '12 at 08:04
@Mido I don't want to read the messages from Inbox and show it. I want to save the message when user sends it. — Chandra Sekhar, Jun 06 '12 at 08:08
I think this [Post][1] has code snippets of what you're looking for. [1]: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/848728/how-can-i-read-sms-messages-from-the-inbox-programmatically-in-android — dotmido, Jun 06 '12 at 08:09

score 10 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

10

This is easy to do with a broadcast Receiver write in your Manifest:

edit: seems only to work for SMS_RECEIVED see this thread

<receiver android:name=".SMSReceiver"  android:enabled="true">
 <intent-filter android:priority="1000">
      <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED"/>
      <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.SMS_SENT"/>
 </intent-filter>
</receiver>

And the Permission:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS" />

Then Create the Receiver llike:

public class SMSReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
  @Override
  public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
       if (intent.getAction().equals("android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED")){
    //do something with the received sms        
       }else  if(intent.getAction().equals("android.provider.Telephony.SMS_SENT")){
            //do something with the sended sms
     }
  }
}

To handle a incoming sms might look like:

Bundle extras = intent.getExtras();
Object[] pdus = (Object[]) extras.get("pdus");
for (Object pdu : pdus) {
        SmsMessage msg = SmsMessage.createFromPdu((byte[]) pdu);
        String origin = msg.getOriginatingAddress();
        String body = msg.getMessageBody();
....
}

If you want to prevent a sms to be pushed in the commen InBox, you can achieve this with:

abortBroadcast();

edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

Community

1
1

answered Jun 06 '12 at 08:27

2red13

11,197
8
40
52

I just want to confirm that, when a user tries to send a message from the default message app will Android call my Receiver class? – Chandra Sekhar Jun 06 '12 at 08:38
sorry, i build a application to be sure and i only receive the SMS_RECEIVED action, i don't know why... i will test it – 2red13 Jun 06 '12 at 09:07
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/990558/android-broadcast-receiver-for-sent-sms-messages – 2red13 Jun 06 '12 at 09:13
Thanks for your valuable replies, please check and let me know how to track the sending messages. – Chandra Sekhar Jun 06 '12 at 09:30
maybe useful: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5561371/get-sms-number-at-outgoing-time-by-contentobserver – 2red13 Jun 08 '12 at 09:37
android.provider.Telephony.SMS_SENT does not exist. – powder366 May 29 '16 at 12:05

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered May 17 '13 at 08:56

2

Please do not call abortBroadcast() you will prevent other apps receiving the SMS_RECEIVED ordered broadcast. This is bad behavior this is not what android is about. I dont understand why google even lets developer abort broadcasts of system intents like SMS.

answered May 17 '13 at 08:56

Noam Segev

56
4

2

This abortBroadcast thing allow us to make softwares to block incoming calls or sms. I think this is a good thing that can be used as a bad thing, like a lot of other stuffs. People can use a pen to kill, lets stop to build pens. – Lucas Eduardo Feb 03 '15 at 17:35
I agree. Its very usefull for a lot of good Features.You should not Abort every incoming SMS, but my Receiver is able to decide: This SMS is for me, so abort broadcasting, otherwise let it pass through – 2red13 May 31 '16 at 09:37

How to track the messages in Android?

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