Why Do Applications Request My Contacts Data? A Large-Scale Study on Openness and Control of User Contacts Permission in Android Mobile Applicaitons Marketplace

Jianhua Shao(),Matthrew Terrell2(),George Kuk3(),Su Chen4()

Front. Bus. Res. China ›› 2014, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (1) : 113-135.

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PDF(2866 KB)
Front. Bus. Res. China ›› 2014, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (1) : 113-135. DOI: 10.3868/s070-003-014-0006-9
research-article
research-article

Why Do Applications Request My Contacts Data? A Large-Scale Study on Openness and Control of User Contacts Permission in Android Mobile Applicaitons Marketplace

  • Jianhua Shao(),Matthrew Terrell2(),George Kuk3(),Su Chen4()
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Abstract

To understand the value of data transfer, this paper uses consumers’ contact information in mobile application that resides in their mobile devices as a proxy to evaluate the value of user data to application developer and platform owner. Based on a data set of 567,730 Android mobile applications, our research results show that using user contacts can increase application popularity, enable developer to become more influential, and have a positive effect on developers’ productivity when developing future applications. In addition to examining the use and access of a consumers extending contact information on their device, we broaden our research to examine the context and appropriateness of using this information in the context of privacy, and to a less extent education. We conclude our research with a summary of guidance to developers, consumerss, and platform owners in order to maintain a healthy application ecosystem.

Keywords

platform strategy / value of user data / privacy management / Android ecosystem

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Jianhua Shao, Matthrew Terrell, George Kuk, Su Chen. Why Do Applications Request My Contacts Data? A Large-Scale Study on Openness and Control of User Contacts Permission in Android Mobile Applicaitons Marketplace. Front. Bus. Res. China, 2014, 8(1): 113‒135 https://doi.org/10.3868/s070-003-014-0006-9
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