Most of the android phones I’ve had came preinstalled with something called “Mobile Services”. I normally remove it because it just keeps randomly installing apps and games that don’t want but I’ve never had an active phone plan on those phones. If I disabled it from my phone, would I still be able to send and receive calls and texts?

So far the only thing I have found out is that “Mobile Services” is an app that is only preinstalled on android phones who’s carrier is Tracfone.

Edit: Even though I wasn’t able to get an answer, I’ve decided to just disable it. I wont be manually testing it and I wont be updating this post with results. I no longer care at this point and I wont be responding to anymore comments about this.

  • Skull giver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl
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    3 days ago

    Sounds like malware. Could be carrier-installed malware if you bought your phone directly from a carrier (which is why I’ll always go SIM only, fuck carrier firmware), could also be a virus. Either way, it’s nestled its way into your system partition, otherwise it wouldn’t have background install permissions, and that’s generally Not Good.

    I doubt an app that installs trash will be required for your phone to work right. Malware often picks names like these to hide their illicit intent. However, if it’s part of your system ROM, you may not be able to disable it; the system may re-enable it against your will.