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()

PDF(2866 KB)
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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