Android Application Development Cookbook: 93 Recipes for Building Winning Apps

Recipe 4.1 Calling from Your Application

Android Versions

Level 1 and above

Permissions

android.permission.CALL_PHONE

Source Code Download from Wrox.com

MakeCalls.zip

If you are developing an application for a business that provides phone support, why not build that capability directly into the application? For example, suppose the user is currently using your application and needs to make a call to the company for help; in this case, your application can directly dial the phone number. This recipe shows you how.

Solution

To enable users to dial a phone number directly from your application, you can use an Intent object by passing it the ACTION_DIAL action, together with the URI in the following format: tel:<phone_number>:

package net.learn2develop.makecalls;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Bundle;

public class MainActivity extends Activity {

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
        String phoneNumber = "[phone]";
        Intent i = new
                Intent(android.content.Intent.ACTION_DIAL, 
                        Uri.parse("tel:+" + phoneNumber));        
        startActivity(i);
    }

}

The preceding code snippet causes the Phone application to dial the specified number (see Figure 4-1). To place the call, the user needs to physically press the call button.

Figure 4-1

If you want the Phone application to directly place the call for users ...