title: Is there another way of launching the Messages app in iOS? (for donations)
body: <p>We're trying to submit an iOS app that makes charitable SMS donations. We've done a number of these in the past without issue; but Apple is no longer willing to accept our approach and have rejected our app.</p>
  
  <p>Their claim is that the app doesn't comply with point 21.2 of the guidelines. Which is:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><strong>21.2</strong> The collection of donations must be done via a web site in Safari or an SMS</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>In the past, and in this current app, we are using <code>MFMessageComposeViewController</code> in the <code>MessageUI</code> framework to build the SMS message. We use this because; being a donation to a shortcode we need to be able to write a keyword in the message.</p>
  
  <p>After a bit of back-and-forth in the Resolution Center (and a Rejection Dispute) the most I can get out of Apple about what we're supposed to do is:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Sending SMS messages from within the app may not be in compliance with the App Store guidelines.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>and</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>The SMS link should launch Messages to make the donation.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>We can use the <code>sms:</code> <a href="http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#featuredarticles/iPhoneURLScheme_Reference/Articles/sms.html" rel="noreferrer">URL scheme</a> to launch the Messages app for a certain number, but that method doesn't allow us to add our required keyword.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>So the question is: Does anyone know of another way of launching the Messages app?</p>
  
  <p>Our fallback option is to give up building an SMS message ourselves and have an alert that tells the user "<em>Text YYYY to ZZZZ</em>" which is a pretty poor user experience.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p><strong>Update (5th March 2013):</strong></p>
  
  <p>We resubmitted the app again with our alert-only fallback option ... it was rejected again for the same reasons. We are, again, contesting it with Apple.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p><strong>Update (6th March 2013):</strong></p>
  
  <p>After a stern message to Apple explaining the obvious... the app has passed submission.</p>
  
  <p>I wrote:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>We have to disagree. The app does not include the ability to collect charitable donations within the app. It only informs the user on how they can donate.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>So; if you have the same problem I suggest trying to complain first before going about 'fixing' your app.</p>