We describe our reasons for publishing the Discover Sms app by sideloading, A process where you download the signed android apk of the app directly to your phone.
The Discover Sms app might not be available to install on the Google Play store, and we want to be able to offer you the tools to send and administrate sms messages on your own phone.
Sideloading involves downloading the APK directly, enabling 'Install from Unknown Sources' in your settings, and then opening and installing the APK.
How to sideload - From HowToGeekSideloading is the process of manually installing an app on your device, bypassing the official app store. It's typically done using an APK file.
What is sideloading - Youtube video by Eye on TechWe developed Discover Sms app for android during first half of 2023. We implemented it as a foreground service, controllable from a websocket hub, and a website written in blazor to communicate.
We did implement an Api to allow external user to control the app from their own development environment, web, desktop whatever.
We made the app respond to send commands, and to let it report the delivery status on the ordered commands.
However, it turns out, that Googles Play store policy for approvals is harsh. It might be impossible to get a remote Sms sender approval.
Searching for 'Sms default handler at play store' shows that some 4-5 years ago, the policy changed, and several potential useful services and apps had to shut down.
For instance, it seems, to implement a Sms sender, one has to ALSO implement an Sms receiver, AND a mms sender and receiver. As somone have said:
If you are serious about implementing a fully functional MMS receiver and parser, consider diving into the MMS Encapsulation specification and also looking for third-party libraries that might assist in this endeavor. It's a considerable undertaking.
We will continue to use the Discover Sms Api, and we plan to create several subscription services
The cost to usefulness ratio just seems to be right.
Also, we are going to publish most of the source code.
Obviously, we would very much like you to link to our site gutterommet.no.
The benefits for the end-users of sideloading can be quicker updates, as the software does not have to go through the oftentimes not documented play store policies
Availability of features are also a benefit for the end-users, if those features are desireable by end-user, but not permitted on the Play store.
If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding the app or the sideloading distribution of the app, we encourage you to contact us at:
Please use the support form at https://sms.devhome.no requires a login
This document was last updated on September 09, 2023