Why can't is send text messages to non-Apple devices on my iPad Pro?

I bought an iPad Air 2 last Thurs, 6/1. I traded in an old Gen 2 iPad that was 5 years old. On the old iPad, I never had an issue textInc to people regardless of the platform of their device. Not only would my iPad not sync with messages sent to peeps from my iPhone, I was unable to send text messages to non-Apple users directly from my iPad. WHAT?

I went to the Apple Store today, and a tech person confirmed that their software changed many years ago, not enabling apple texters to communicate by text with non-apple peeps *without a cellular compatible ipad and cellular plan". I said "WHAT"?

So I safari'd that tonight, and found the answer. You need to go to Messages/send-receive, and add your cell # or whatever your ipad message name Is. You will receive a confirmation code on your iphone and need to type that confirmation code into the boxes that pop up on your iPhone.

All is working. I am texting my android husband's phone with a honey-do list. I am not a techie....and Apple reps did not know this information. I hope this reaches everyone who needs the info. Thank you!

There is no solution in the works because iMessage functions the way it is designed to function. iMessage is an Apple only app that works over WiFi with other iOS devices and Mac computers. It was never intended to work with Android phones. You can use text message forwarding on an iPad to text with non iOS users, but you still need an iPhone in order to do that.

Hope this helps:

How to set up and use SMS/MMS relay to send and receive texts on your iPad

http://www.imore.com/how-to-set-up-use-sms-mms-relay-send-receive-texts-ipad

Do you have a cellular text plan directly on your iPad, or at least an iPhone with a cellular text plan that can be linked to the iPad for sending the messages?

If you have an iPhone use Continuity to connect it to your iPhone - Use Continuity to connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac - Apple Support

SImple reality is that SMS/MMS texts require a device capable of a cellular telephone voice connection, while iMessage does not. iMessage is an Internet messaging service offered by Apple. SMS/MMS texts is a non-internet, cellular voice messaging service offered by cellular voice service providers. Since an iPad is only capable of an Internet connection over a cellular networ or wifi, it cannot make any use, natively, of any cellular voice services.

With iOS continuity, your iPhone can handle the actual sending and receiving of SMS/MMS texts, and share those with your iPad over your local wifi connection.

As far as iMessage and non-Apple devices - iMessage is Apple's free service for their product customers, not other companies customers.

You have to go into Settings on your iPhone, then go to Text Message Forward and toggle the switch to "On" for the devices to send and receive messages from this iPhone. This is working for me.