How to find out if a Skype call is currently active on Android

Question

Okay, I decompiled Skype's manifest to find out if there are any Services or Broadcasts running during a call. There are only a few internal broadcasts for incoming calls. Also only one receiver and one service exist.

I monitored all running services with my app, but the SkypeMainService is always running, even if not in a call.

Also AudioMode is not changed by skype (but according to the logcat-logs the dev wanted to, but they just don't do it), so I cannot simply check if it is MODE_IN_CALL.

Do you have any suggestions how to find out, if Skype is currently running and having an active call?

Thanks!

/edit: A brief overview of the Activities etc:

<activity android:name="com.skype.raider.Main">
<activity-alias android:name="com.skype.raider.ui.SplashScreenActivity" android:targetActivity="com.skype.raider.Main">
<receiver android:name="com.skype.MainReceiver" android:enabled="true" android:exported="false">
   <action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED" />
   <action android:name="android.intent.action.MEDIA_MOUNTED" />
   <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEARCH" />
   <action android:name="android.intent.action.CALL_PRIVILEGED" />
   <action android:name="com.skype.raider.INCOMING_GSM_CALL" />
   <action android:name="com.skype.raider.ON_GSM_CALL" />
   <action android:name="com.skype.raider.intent.action.request_sync" />
</receiver>
<service android:name="com.skype.MainService">

I don't use Skype, but if there's an *active* call then won't SkypeActivity (or whatever it's called) be the foreground activity? Which can obviously be detected through ActivityManager... — Reuben Scratton, Jan 17 '12 at 11:39
Yeah, that was my first thought too - but Skype does actually have only two activities declared: A Splashscreen Activity and a Main Activity. The MainActivity does everything, even handling calls... — Force, Jan 17 '12 at 11:48

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 26 '13 at 06:16

Okay, I really hoped someone would provide a useful answer. However, I picked up Reuben's advice in the comment and made this method:

/**
 * Gets the current activity
 * 
 * @param context
 *            A context to use
 * @return The Activity name
 */
public static String getCurrentTopActivity(Context context) {
    ActivityManager mActivityManager = (ActivityManager) context.getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
    List<ActivityManager.RunningTaskInfo> RunningTask = mActivityManager.getRunningTasks(1);
    ActivityManager.RunningTaskInfo ar = RunningTask.get(0);
    return ar.topActivity.getClassName().toString();
}

Then I check if the result equals com.skype.raider.Main. This will also return true if there is no active Skype call, but the main app is open.

Thanks for all the help, especially Reuben!

Edit: Your will need the following permission in your manifest

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_TASKS"/>

Its not working for me, I used this code in my background service. Is there any suggestion for that? — Pratik Butani, Feb 20 '18 at 06:34

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 20 '12 at 09:24

0

The day Skype changes any of this (might be in that update that's coming in 2 days from now - before you finish coding) your code might break. So I don't think its worth attempting anything of this sort.

I am sorry, this might not be an "answer", but I don't think time invested into this is worth it.

answered Jan 20 '12 at 09:24

Vikram Bodicherla

7,133
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I am completely aware of that. However, I asked for a solution for the current software, not a future-proof solution. And what do you mean with the update? Is there an update announced to be released within the next two days? – Force Jan 20 '12 at 09:39

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 21 '12 at 18:03

There is a few things that you can do to increase your chance of guessing it:

1) Check if the application is running:

ActivityManager activityManager = (ActivityManager) this.getSystemService( ACTIVITY_SERVICE );
    List<RunningAppProcessInfo> procInfos = actvityManager.getRunningAppProcesses();
    for(int i = 0; i < procInfos.size(); i++){
        if(procInfos.get(i).processName.equals("com.android.browser")) {
            Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Browser is running", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
        }
    }

2) Check the phone state for data exchanging using the PhoneManager

3) and finally check Skype developers page for any known api

No, like I said before, it doesn't make sense to check if the Skype Process is running (**it is always running**) and in addition **there are no Android APIs** on that site. — Force, Jan 21 '12 at 18:43
Also as I wrote in the question, the phone state is not changed. — Force, Jan 22 '12 at 14:35

How to find out if a Skype call is currently active on Android

3 Answers3