iPad insists on iMessage

AceRickenbacker wrote:

Why won’t it just use the regular cellular service, since the person doesn’t have iMessage? I have reception. I have data. Cellular is not turned off or anything. It ought to just change over to standard, cellular, sms messaging right?

Your iPad is working as expected. iPads, on their own, are not capable of SMS messaging. Even the cellular ones don't have the right hardware. And they do not have an active mobile number. The number you see is for billing purposes only.

In order to be able to send messages from an iPad to someone who does not have iMessage, you need to link your iPhone to the iPad.

Forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your Mac or iPad - Apple Support

If you do not have an iPhone, you cannot send or receive SMS messages from an iPad.

Do you have your Apple ID or phone number set up to send a message?

Check at Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > Start New Conversation From.

Do you have Send as SMS turned on at Settings > Messages > Send as SMS?

Are you sure this is a Cellular iPad?

Do you have the option at Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data?

IdrisSeabright has the correct answer. Even a cellular iPad cannot send SMS messages.

I used to get this question A LOT when I worked for Verizon!

Glad it helped!