Android> Creating phone app using custom code OR modifying source code for built-in native phone

Question

I am a novice Android-Java developer and am building a custom telephony application. From my understanding there are 2 approaches I can take.

1. Build a custom app from scratch using the SDK and TelephonyManager class

2. Or, grab the entire native app source from source.android.com and 'hack' the existing phone application.

The application MUST run in kiosk mode and also run automatically when the device is powered on, both of which I am still researching. It will also need to communicate via the Android Open Accessory Protocol with an external arduino device (no voice data, probably just volume levels).

Can any android experts suggest which approach, 1 or 2 is going to be easiest to implement and why?

Answer 1

If I am not wrong than you are going to implement it using Java in that case I would suggest 3rd Option.

Option 3: Write your own wrapper on top of existing TelephonyManager and extend the feature functionality.

I am not sure how deep you are going to change the existing API but in case you are going to enhance the feature than this option seems good.