How to handle the new SEND_SMS permission rules for Android

With the new Permissions policy announced by Google in October it will be no longer possible to send SMS directly from within an ionic app starting January 2019, any app with SMS_SEND permission will be rejected unless the developer files for “Permissions Declaration Form” which unlikely will be accepted by Google if the app core functionality is not an SMS-based app. So we developers are left with 2 options: 1- Remove SEND_SMS permission along with all SMS features from the app, or, 2- Make the plugin open an external messaging app like with iOS.

The SMS native plugin on Android is designed to send messages directly from within Ionic app, so how can I open external messaging app on android with a predefined text?

3 Likes

I’d like to know as well

Look at this:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9047303

Hope it helps