Often it's so they can stop what they're doing when you receive a phone call, e.g. playing music/video/a game.

Can be a little frightening. For example, I got an email recently that the Tennis club to which I belong has an App for notifications and booking courts.

This App wants to know

• my Identity
• where I am
• modify or delete the contents of my SD card
• read the contents of said SD card
• take pictures and videos
• read phone status and identity
• draw over other apps
• full network access
• prevent phone from sleeping
• read Google service configuration
• control vibration(!)
• view network connections

and...... "may automatically add additional capabilities within each group".

d3Xt3r: The issue here is with devs being lazy or just plain incompetent. The Android Play Store has a very low bar of entry, and it doesn't help that Google doesn't curate or actively police it (beyond scanning for malware or copyright infringement).

Eg, while NikT is correct that many apps request it to pause what they're doing in the event of a phone call, that permission is often overkill and potentially gives access for the app to do a lot more. In this instance, the proper way to accomplish this is to use the onAudioFocusChange() event handler, so you don't even need the phone permissions or anything special.

If you come across an app which requires an unreasonable set of permissions and the dev doesn't explain why those permissions are required, I'd avoid the app like the plague, and leave a 1* rating.

Sound advice; although IMLE to date, that would mean having very few apps on your phone..!

d3Xt3r: 

If you come across an app which requires an unreasonable set of permissions and the dev doesn't explain why those permissions are required, I'd avoid the app like the plague, and leave a 1* rating.

They're like that more often that not, this thread just reminded me why I went to iOS. Thanks

joker97:

d3Xt3r: 

If you come across an app which requires an unreasonable set of permissions and the dev doesn't explain why those permissions are required, I'd avoid the app like the plague, and leave a 1* rating.

They're like that more often that not, this thread just reminded me why I went to iOS. Thanks

Geektastic:

Why do so many Android apps ask for permission to 'make and manage calls'?

 

gzt:

joker97:

 

d3Xt3r: 

If you come across an app which requires an unreasonable set of permissions and the dev doesn't explain why those permissions are required, I'd avoid the app like the plague, and leave a 1* rating.

 

 

 

They're like that more often that not, this thread just reminded me why I went to iOS. Thanks

 

Because iOS doesn't ask? ; ).

It has a permissions list for everything - you can deny all sorts of permissions and still use the apps. 

What I meant to say was the apps tend to be less intrusive, not sure if iOS is more stringent or the devs are more diligent. Whereas all free Android apps want to look at all your contacts your emails your dialer your grandmother's name etc. For example search for torch app. 99% of those apps want to read your contacts and access internet! That leaves me with no apps to download. Moved to different ecosystem for that reason, which was the last straw.

You see it occasionally with iOS, but I agree that it's much more rare. I remember downloading an iPhone MSN client (obviously a few years ago now) and it asked for access to contacts. As MSN had its own server-side contact list, I declined that request and the app promptly crashed. Fortunately that's not a common issue these days!

joker97:

gzt:

joker97:

d3Xt3r: 

If you come across an app which requires an unreasonable set of permissions and the dev doesn't explain why those permissions are required, I'd avoid the app like the plague, and leave a 1* rating.

 

They're like that more often that not, this thread just reminded me why I went to iOS. Thanks

Because iOS doesn't ask? ; ).

It has a permissions list for everything - you can deny all sorts of permissions and still use the apps. 

What I meant to say was the apps tend to be less intrusive, not sure if iOS is more stringent or the devs are more diligent. Whereas all free Android apps want to look at all your contacts your emails your dialer your grandmother's name etc. For example search for torch app. 99% of those apps want to read your contacts and access internet! That leaves me with no apps to download. Moved to different ecosystem for that reason, which was the last straw.