Hi Marcos,
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. The sequence was 6.0.1 then a new copy of ESET, as buying a new licence and trying to upgrade the installed AV failed in a continous loop of 'update the components, updated them, update the components' and thus I resorted to removing the AV then installing the version from Google Play (directed there by ESEt website).
Thank you for advising that only one application can access SMS - I am presuming the stock message reader, correct?
Is the fact that there is no longer a version update checker built into the ESET app, also a result of 6.0.1? Or put it another way, will Google Play now let me know when ESET AV program components needs updating?
Many thanks Marcos for your time in this matter - most appreciated.