Given the problems of using the sending of SMS from OruxMaps, I have created an independent app to manage this functionality, OruxSoS. It can work alone or be activated from OruxMaps.
Its cost will be €1, but from 17 Sept 2022 – 24 Sept 2022 it will be free for 8 days (the time that Google Play allows this type of promotion).
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orux.oruxsos (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orux.oruxsos)
orux
by the end of this year the new smartphones, android or iOS, will support satellite sms for SOS. Yes, this will be a subscription function, but it's the only guaranty action to save the humans life. Into the mountains, the opportunity for valid GSM signals is very rare.
Yes, there is also the (garmin) expensive Iridium Satellite Communications
Quote from: lneam on September 13, 2022, 07:59:44 AM
by the end of this year the new smartphones, android or iOS, will support satellite sms for SOS. Yes, this will be a subscription function, but it's the only guaranty action to save the humans life. Into the mountains, the opportunity for valid GSM signals is very rare.
Yes, there is also the (garmin) expensive Iridium Satellite Communications
I agree that sending SMS by satellite is an option, in certain circumstances much better than by GSM, for example where there is no GSM coverage :) But it will not offer a 100% guarantee either. I also don't know if it will work well if the phone is in a pocket, or in a backpack, or under trees,...
We know that Android 12 is on less than 20% of phones, when it was released over a year ago. When will satellite SOS connectivity on Android become widespread?
For many outdoor activities that are carried out alone, there is GSM coverage. Even in the mountains (in Spain at least), it is usual to have GSM coverage.
orux
Quote from: orux on September 12, 2022, 08:44:13 PM
Given the problems of using the sending of SMS from OruxMaps, I have created an independent app to manage this functionality, OruxSoS. It can work alone or be activated from OruxMaps.
Its cost will be €1, but from tomorrow it will be free for 8 days (the time that Google Play allows this type of promotion).
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orux.oruxsos (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orux.oruxsos)
orux
it's not for the euro.... I will give it anyway... but it is not in promotion now....
GSM SOS is the past and satellite SOS if the feature. Into 1-2 years the new technology will be more accurate and cheap.
i have a question. Into the first post says about 8 days of free install, but it is not
Hello!
Sorry, there was a problem with the sale, it seems that it was not activated correctly.
The sale date is now set from September 17, 2022 to September 24, 2022.
I hope it works fine now!
orux
I like the idea of this app, but after trying it, I see some major problems concerning its safety and usability:
- Alert warning time is locked at 30s
- It only plays a single alert tone once. It needs to play continually (or have option) to make it more noticeable and avoid false alarms
- The alert tone is only the default device notification tone, making it easy to mistake for some other notification, such as receiving a text message or email
- The shake-to-cancel feature is so sensitive that I don't think it can be used safely. It's far too easy for a tiny movement to cancel an alert.
I understand that it should not be used as the only method to call for help, but it is a big problem to make it so easy to miss the alert countdown notification and send out false alerts.
What would also be an excellent addition would be adding an API to allow external apps to register for an alert event. This could allow it to be used with satellite-based services that have an app on the device that can send messages, such as ZOLEO. While it would be very difficult to include integration for every device out there, if you added this API it would be possible for others to write an integration through an intermediary app.
Thank you!
Will the development of this app continue? Google Play shows version 0.0.11, this number looks like there still is much to do.
Or will the SOS-functionality be integrated directly in OruxMaps NG in future, like it was in the free version back in the days?
What was the problem sending SMS directly from OruxMaps? For me in the old free version of OruxMaps this worked well.
The remarks and suggestions avicherry made sound reasonable to me.
Quote from: Sandy on July 05, 2026, 01:29:43 AMWill the development of this app continue? Google Play shows version 0.0.11, this number looks like there still is much to do.
Or will the SOS-functionality be integrated directly in OruxMaps NG in future, like it was in the free version back in the days?
What was the problem sending SMS directly from OruxMaps? For me in the old free version of OruxMaps this worked well.
The remarks and suggestions avicherry made sound reasonable to me.
OruxMaps cannot send SMS because Google Play strictly restricts SMS permissions. Only the phone's default messaging app is allowed to use the SEND_SMS permission. There are exemptions, but Google only grants them when an app meets very strict rules and can prove that sending SMS is essential to its core functionality. Since OruxMaps is not a messaging app and does not meet those criteria, Google Play would block the app if it tried to use SMS permissions. Technically, Android can send SMS, but Google Play does not allow it for normal apps.
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/10208820?hl=en-mt