Android Apps: What is the recommended targetSdk for broadest appeal?

Posted by johnrock on Stack Overflow See other posts from Stack Overflow or by johnrock
Published on 2010-05-28T02:25:39Z Indexed on 2010/05/28 2:31 UTC
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I have an Android app that only needs internet access and would like to target API level 3 (1.5) to reach the broadest handset base. However, it appears that targeting API level 3 implicitly requires two additional permissions that are visible to users: modify sd card, and read phone state.

See: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1747178/android-permissions-phone-calls-read-phone-state-and-identity)

So the connundrum, do I target API level 4 and turn away users running 1.5, or do I target API level 3 and turn away users who are upset that my app is requesting so many permissions that it shouldn't need?

What is the smartest thing to do here? Are there really a lot of users still limited to API level 3?

I appreciate any wisdom offered! Thanks!

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