diff --git a/media/libmediametrics/MediaAnalyticsItem.cpp b/media/libmediametrics/MediaAnalyticsItem.cpp
index d3de01e..448e2d9 100644
--- a/media/libmediametrics/MediaAnalyticsItem.cpp
+++ b/media/libmediametrics/MediaAnalyticsItem.cpp
@@ -487,6 +487,18 @@
     return true;
 }
 
+bool MediaAnalyticsItem::getString(MediaAnalyticsItem::Attr name, std::string *value) {
+    Prop *prop = findProp(name);
+    if (prop == NULL || prop->mType != kTypeCString) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    if (value != NULL) {
+        // std::string makes a copy for us
+        *value = prop->u.CStringValue;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
 // remove indicated keys and their values
 // return value is # keys removed
 int32_t MediaAnalyticsItem::filter(int n, MediaAnalyticsItem::Attr attrs[]) {
@@ -726,6 +738,15 @@
 }
 
 
+const char *MediaAnalyticsItem::toCString() {
+   return toCString(PROTO_LAST);
+}
+
+const char * MediaAnalyticsItem::toCString(int version) {
+    std::string val = toString(version);
+    return strdup(val.c_str());
+}
+
 std::string MediaAnalyticsItem::toString() {
    return toString(PROTO_LAST);
 }