This service is similar to the system components that enable other forms of wireless connectivity on your phone (ie. WiFi, NFC) and will not run or use system resources unless you start an app that requires ANT wireless communication. It is pre-installed by your device manufacturer to allow the built-in ANT wireless hardware already present in your mobile device to operate. If you do not intend to use this feature there will be no impact to your system and no further action is required.
If this service is not pre-installed on your phone you may still be able to enable ANT+ communication, see http://www.thisisant.com/developer/ant/ant-in-android/ for more info.
What is ANT?
ANT is an extremely power efficient wireless communication technology. ANT allows you to connect to, and make use of various other ANT or ANT+ devices. Today, this service allows you to connect to popular interoperable ANT+ sport/fitness/health devices such as heart rate sensors, fitness equipment, cycling products, weight scales and more. In the future it will be possible to use ANT to enable a myriad of new applications from your mobile device, such as home automation control of lighting, temperature and door lock functions. Visit www.thisisant.com for more info.
How to use:
This system service cannot be launched directly. It will run automatically in the background whenever any application that requires ANT wireless communication is used.
ANT+ enabled applications also typically require downloading the ANT+ Plugins http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dsi.ant.plugins.antplus
Some popular apps enhanced with ANT+:
* Samsung S Health
* Garmin Fit
* SportsTracker by STL
* Endomondo
* My Tracks
* Run.GPS Trainer UV
* IpBike, IpWatts, IpPeloton, IpSmartHr
* Selfloops
* SportyPal
* MapMyFITNESS/RIDE/RUN/WALK+/HIKE/DOGWALK
Developing ANT Applications:
ANT is an ultra low power wireless technology great for low data rate applications such as sensors, monitors, beacons, command and control, etc. Connecting devices and transferring data is simple using our ANT API. Developing apps for ANT+ devices is even easier using our ANT+ Plugins API. These APIs are free to use. More information is available at http://www.thisisant.com/developer/ant/ant-in-android/.
Required Android Permissions:
Full Network Access: The ANT Radio Service will never download or upload any data over the internet. This permission is only required because it is possible to install the ANT Radio Service on an Android Emulator (ie: for development purposes) in which case it requires access to internet sockets to communicate with an ANT USB Stick on the host Windows PC using the ANT Android Emulator Tools. This communication requires the INTERNET permission but only communicates with the local PC.
Modify System Settings: This allows initialization of whether ANT should be turned off or kept on when Airplane mode is entered.
Bluetooth Admin: On some hardware configurations ANT may require communicating with Bluetooth at the system level. However, this service will not start bluetooth scans or create bluetooth connections.
More Info:
* ANT and ANT+ in general http://www.thisisant.com
* ANT on Android http://www.thisisant.com/consumer/ant-101/ant-in-phones/
* ANT+ Certified Apps http://www.thisisant.com/directory/filter/~/115/~/
* Other ANT+ Certified Products http://www.thisisant.com/directory/
Please send any questions to android@thisisant.com as it is difficult to respond to all questions left in reviews.
