Why Does Gmail Access Your BlackBerry Phone Logs?

Have you ever noticed that if you install Gmail for mobile devices on your BlackBerry it tries to access your BlackBerry’s phone logs?

Darren Albers has.

Anyone care to venture why Google’s email client needs such access? I don’t remember this prompt from when I first installed it, however, I am sure that I would have blown right passed it without really reading it anyway.

Way to be observant Darren…

Gmail for Mobile

Written by Robb Dunewood on March 19th, 2007 with 8 comments.
Read more articles on BlackBerry Software and Free BlackBerry Downloads.

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Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com Derek
#1. March 19th, 2007, at 2:11 PM.

I can’t say I’ve noticed this prompt. I believe I may have allowed Gmail Mobile free reign access to anything it needed on my BlackBerry during the initial install. However, on a similar note, I’m a little perplexed as to why I am unable to dial phone numbers from Gmail Mobile emails directly (like I am in text messages).

My take on the matter Google is trying to gather just a little bit more information on its users. Maybe an added feature later down the road which includes cross referencing messages with previously called contacts? Maybe Gmail mobile addressbook integration?

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com TZ
#2. March 19th, 2007, at 4:11 PM.

Not sure why they need this kind of access, but do we no longer trust the company that promised to “do no evil” ? :)

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com Jason
#3. March 19th, 2007, at 6:53 PM.

GMail is invoking Phone.getActiveCall(), which returns null when there is no call. It’s part of determining when there is likely to be a network connection.

If you click “No” to the security prompt, GMail will crash, and you can see the stacktrace in the Event Log (Alt-LGLG from the ribbon)

http://www.blackberry.com/developers/docs/4.2api/net/rim/blackberry/api/phone/Phone.html#getActiveCall()

Trackback Mention from Quickrob.com
#4. March 19th, 2007, at 9:01 PM.

Google is Starting to Freak Me Out • QuickRob - Not So Quick Lately: Google is a few steps away from being completely out of my life. My Google usage is bad for ...

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com Stinsonddog
#5. March 21st, 2007, at 1:18 PM.

The reason for that is so that you can make calls from numbers embedded in emails. If you have not accepted it properly go into options, applications, modules and reset the firewall prompts.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com Richard
#6. April 16th, 2007, at 1:03 PM.

The problem is that it doen’t catch the exception if you don’t allow the access, and GMail dies.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com simon Ramson
#7. June 18th, 2008, at 5:31 PM.

please when I try to open gmail web site,it reads a respond”secure connection not available”CLICK HERE to continue.But when I click,it reads the same respond again.I contacted my service provider they reply the error is not from their link.
PLEASE HOW CAN I ACTIVATE A SECURE CONNECTION?
my mobile number is 00233277074750.
Thank you.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com simon Ramson
#8. June 18th, 2008, at 5:35 PM.

Please how can I subscribe Gmail packet data on my phone?

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