Is READ_GSERVICES permission still required for Google Maps?

Question

To add Google Maps to your android application, you need to include a few permissions:

Answer 1

All permissions you need for Google Maps Android API are in the docs:

You must also request the android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.

Note: If you're targeting the Android M SDK (23) and the latest version of the Google Play services SDK (8.1), you no longer need the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE.

From the next release of the Google Play services SDK, the requirement for the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission will be completely dropped from the Google Maps Android API.

So the answer is NO, you don't need it if you use current latest GPS, i.e. 8.1.0.

Answer 2

NO, This persimmons is no longer required in google MAP API V2

    <permission
                 android:name="phonelocation.example.asuss550c.phonelocation.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"
                 android:protectionLevel="signature" />  
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES" />

You only need to add

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />

Also this MetaData in your Application Tag

   <meta-data
            android:name="com.google.android.geo.API_KEY"
            android:value="@string/google_maps_key" />