Home › News ›

Google to Limit What Apps Can Do with Gmail and SMS

Article Comments

Oct 8, 2018, 2:04 PM by Eric M. Zeman

Google today said it plans to limit what apps are allowed to do when granted access to users' Gmail accounts and SMS, contacts, and phone call logs. In Gmail, Google will curtail the types of apps that are allowed to seek permission for Gmail data. Google says only apps that directly enhance or improve email functionality will be allowed to access Gmail. Further, apps that do need access to Gmail will need to adhere to strict new rules and be subject to occasional security audits. Similarly, Google plans to limit which types of apps are allowed to seek users' SMS, call log, and contact information. Apps will need to show specific reasons for wanting this information. Only apps set as the default SMS and calling apps will be allowed to request such data. And users will be able to control this with more granularity. Last, Google plans to make contact interaction data unavailable to apps and developers. The company will make this change through the Android Contacts API over the next few months. Google encourages developers to review the new guidelines and update their apps accordingly. For end users, the result means apps will have less access to their data.

Related

iPhone 14 Plus Offers a Big Screen For Less

Sep 7, 2022
Apple has revealed the iPhone 14 series, with new features, improved specs, and new size options. In place of a Mini option, the iPhone 14 will come in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen size options as the Pro models.

Google Adds COVID Cards to Android Wallet

Jul 1, 2021
Google has updated the Passes feature in Android to specifically support COVID vaccination and test cards. This brings vaccine passport functionality directly into Android 5 and later.

Major Update to Google Messages Brings iPhone-Compatible Emoji Reactions

Mar 10, 2022
Google today started rolling out a major update to its Messages app, the default SMS and RCS messaging app on most new Android phones. It includes several major new features, but the biggest for most people may be automatic conversion and tidier display of emoji reactions from iPhone users .

Apple Watch Goes Ultra

Sep 7, 2022
Apple has refreshed its Apple Watch lineup with Series 8, a new Watch SE, and added a larger, more rugged Apple Watch Ultra for athletes and extreme adventurers. Apple Watch Series 8 has two main upgrades over Series 7: temperature sensors and Crash Detection.

T-Mobile Intros New, Cheaper Small Biz Plans

May 20, 2021
T-Mobile today announced out new small business plans called Business Unlimited. The three new options offer a better value than the existing Magenta for Business plans in several ways.

more news about:

Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

No messages

Page 1 of 1