How to analyze incoming SMS on Android?

Saurabh Kumar picture Saurabh Kumar · Jan 9, 2011 · Viewed 13.6k times · Source

How can I code in Android such that my app can analyze an incoming SMS and perhaps block it or do something(maybe move to a different SMS folder) BEFORE the SMS actually raises a notification telling the user of a new SMS? I would target Android 2.1 and above.

I would want to analyse incoming SMS for user specified spam words, and if found would want to delete/mark as read/move the message to a different folder.

Answer

maztch picture maztch · Feb 23, 2011

I use this code, as a BroadcastReceiver:

public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) 
{   
    //this stops notifications to others
    this.abortBroadcast();

    //---get the SMS message passed in---
    Bundle bundle = intent.getExtras();   
    SmsMessage[] msgs = null;
    String str = "";            
    if (bundle != null)
    {
        //---retrieve the SMS message received---
        Object[] pdus = (Object[]) bundle.get("pdus");
        msgs = new SmsMessage[pdus.length];            
        for (int i=0; i<msgs.length; i++){
            msgs[i] = SmsMessage.createFromPdu((byte[])pdus[i]);                
            str += "SMS from " + msgs[i].getOriginatingAddress();
            from = msgs[i].getOriginatingAddress();
            str += " :";
            str += msgs[i].getMessageBody().toString();
            msg = msgs[i].getMessageBody().toString();
            str += "\n"; 
        }
        if(checksomething){
            //make your actions
            //and no alert notification and sms not in inbox
        }
        else{
            //continue the normal process of sms and will get alert and reaches inbox
            this.clearAbortBroadcast();
        }
  }

remember to add it in manifest and add a higgest priority (100) for broadcast or sms will go first to inbox and get the alert notification.

    <receiver android:name=".SmsReceiver">
        <intent-filter android:priority="100">
            <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED"></action>
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>

Hope it helps you.