Unable to start Service Intent

First, you do not need android:process=":remote", so please remove it, since all it will do is take up extra RAM for no benefit.

Second, since the <service> element contains an action string, use it:

public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {    
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);  
      Intent intent=new Intent("com.sample.service.serviceClass");  
      this.startService(intent);
}

I hope I can help someone with this info as well: I moved my service class into another package and I fixed the references. The project was perfectly fine, BUT the service class could not be found by the activity.

By watching the log in logcat I noticed the warning about the issue: the activity could not find the service class, but the funny thing was that the package was incorrect, it contained a "/" char. The compiler was looking for

com.something./service.MyService

instead of

com.something.service.MyService

I moved the service class out from the package and back in and everything worked just fine.

For anyone else coming across this thread I had this issue and was pulling my hair out. I had the service declaration OUTSIDE of the '< application>' end tag DUH!

RIGHT:

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
  ...>
...
<application android:icon="@drawable/icon" android:label="@string/app_name">
    <activity ...>
        ...
    </activity>    

    <service android:name=".Service"/>

    <receiver android:name=".Receiver">
        <intent-filter>
            ...
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>        
</application>

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

WRONG but still compiles without errors:

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
  ...>
...
<application android:icon="@drawable/icon" android:label="@string/app_name">
    <activity ...>
        ...
    </activity>

</application>

    <service android:name=".Service"/>

    <receiver android:name=".Receiver">
        <intent-filter>
            ...
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>        

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

1) check if service declaration in manifest is nested in application tag

<application>
    <service android:name="" />
</application>

2) check if your service.java is in the same package or diff package as the activity

<application>
    <!-- service.java exists in diff package -->
    <service android:name="com.package.helper.service" /> 
</application>

<application>
    <!-- service.java exists in same package -->
    <service android:name=".service" /> 
</application>