Q: How do I send text using iPad?

The iPad has no native texting ability. You can send iMessages to other Apple product users, but SMS texting will require an App.

The iPad is not a phone. It can only send text messages if you also have an iPhone which is configured to permit this. in this case the text messages are actually sent through the iPhone.

This explains how to set up iMesages for the iPad.

http://www.apple.com/ios/messages/

IF you also have an iPhone, you can use text message forwarding in order to send SMS texts to non iOS devices.

Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac - Apple Support

1. You need iOS 8 or later on your iOS devices and OS X Yosemite or later on your Mac.
2. Sign in to iMessage with the same Apple ID on your iPhone, your other iOS devices, and your Mac.
3. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Add a check to both your phone number and email address. Then go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding and enable the device or devices that you want to forward messages to.
4. Look for a code on the Mac, iPad, or iPod touch that you enabled. Then enter this verification code on your iPhone.

Search the app store

Try "texting" or "SMS" as search terms.

Despite the fact the iPad is cellular capable, it is not capable natively to send SMS, as the device does not have a phone number. The number it has is just an account number for the company to use to bill your usage. The cellular capability of the iPad is for data purposes only.

As indicated by others, the type of application you use in the App Store is your decision. There are a number of them, however most require the recipient to also have the same application. That is one of the drawbacks, because the iPad again, is not a phone. As far as iMessage is concerned, the sending and receiving of those are for iOS devices only. You would only be able to iMessage between other iOS device users. You would set up iMessage in Settings, an it uses your Apple ID email address to send the messages. You would need to know who actually has iOS devices before you attempted to send an iMessage to your friends/associates.

To address your final comment about "user friendly", "easy to use", the devices are. The iPad has never been advertised as a texting device, just that is has the capability to use iMessage. There is nothing for them to "get back on tract", since the iPad performs as most tablets do. And as others have said, it does have the ability to send an SMS, if you also have an iPhone to use.

PBATMAT wrote:

 

The new "terms" used in the computer world of today are completely foreign to us "oldies but goodies". Again I THANK YOU for explaining how it works. Now I better understand. XO.

You would be surprised at how many of us are also "oldies but goodies" in the ASC.  Well, maybe not goodies, but oldies nonetheless.

I'm glad you got it. I have to agree with Demo, since I'm part of the "over 60ish" group as well. I'm not a Mac user, but am rather absorbed in the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch group here in my family. And as the patriarch, I have to be "in the know" when it comes to this "stuff". I have found the best way to approach a lot of this is to do a little more homework before hand to make sure I'm doing what I need when it comes to these purchases. While I do text within the family, and we are all iPhone users, which makes it a lot easier, I've still not embraced texting with everyone, so I'm a little more familiar with what devices everyone has. Good luck with things.