Why doesn't Android API publicly allow to listen for incoming SMS?
<p>Recently a question here on SO ported this to my attention. Android doesn't have a public API for listening to incoming SMS. There used to be an action <code>android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED</code>, but it has been removed from the official API and even if it still works, it's obviously not future-proof. I don't need this feature right now, but I may in the future, and I find it very strange it's not available because:</p>

<ol>
<li>Android has always encouraged the deep customization of every little part of the system (think of tha launcher, the dialer, the contact app)</li>
<li>There are plenty of alternatives to the standard SMS app already in the Market (not to mention the vendors' ones)</li>
</ol>

<p>Maybe I am missing something or maybe there's a technical reason - I admit not know how SMS works</p>
