Permission required when using Intent to call phone?

Question

In one of my apps I'm using the following code to issue a phone call:

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_CALL, Uri.parse(...)); 
startActivity(intent);

The docs say I do need the following Manifest permission to do so:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CALL_PHONE" />

Is this really required? I do not understand the difference between a phone and a camera feature. When using a phone intent I do need a permission but I don't need permission for a camera intent:

Intent intent = new Intent(MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE);
...
startActivityForResult(intent, 1);

Is there a list on hardware features that need a permission if fired with the help of an intent and those that don't?

Answer 1

Actually, if you wish to just open the dialer with a specific phone number, without direct calling (needs user confirmation), you can do it without any permission:

Uri uri = Uri.parse("tel:" + PHONE_NUMBER);
Intent callIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_DIAL, uri);
try {
    context.startActivity(callIntent);
} catch (ActivityNotFoundException activityNotFoundException) {
    // TODO: place code to handle users that have no call application installed, otherwise the app crashes
}