Is it possible to launch any arbitrary iPhone application from within another app? For example in my application if I want the user to push a button and launch right into the Phone app (close the current app, open the Phone app), would this be possible? I know this can be done for making phone calls with the tel URL link, but I want to instead just have the Phone app launch without dialing any specific number.
+1
A:
No it's not. Besides the documented URL handlers, there's no way to communicate with/launch another app.
Kevin Ballard
2009-01-07 04:59:54
+10
A:
As Kevin points out, URL Schemes are the only way to communicate between apps. So, no, it's not possible to launch arbitrary apps.
But, it is possible to launch any app that registers a URL Scheme, whether its Apple's, your's, or another developer's. The docs are here:
Communicating with Other Applications
As for launching the phone, looks like your tel: link needs to have least three digits before the phone will launch. So you can't just drop into the app w/o dialing a number.
Gordon Wilson
2009-01-07 05:35:38
+2
A:
You can only launch apps that have registered a URL scheme. Then just like you open the SMS app by using sms:, you'll be able to open the app using their URL scheme.
There is a very good example available in the docs called LaunchMe which demonstrates this.
lostInTransit
2009-01-07 11:43:10
+7
A:
I'm putting together a list of the various url schemes registered by iPhone apps.
It can be used to:
- Avoid clashes with existing apps
- Find apps you could integrate with
- Find apps who may want to integrate with yours
Please take a look at iPhone apps with special url shortcuts
Add your app in the comments along with details of any parameters or a link to where you document them.
I'll integrate them into the original post. If there's enough interest I'll make it a bit more interactive.
koregan
2009-01-08 10:15:26
great site!!!!!
zPesk
2010-04-02 03:39:24
A:
can you launch two at a time, like the phone and the sms, which will give you an alert to choose one?
JJ
2010-04-02 03:34:03