iMessage SMS issue that's perplexing...

At home we both have iPhone 6's and 2 iPads all updated with IOS 8.1.1.

As of lately, I can SMS anyone with a phone number from iPhone, iPad, and Macbook Air via Messages. I text back and forth with non iMessage/Non-apple users everyday now.

PROBLEM: my roommate cannot iMessage Non-Apple/Non-iMessage people through her iPad (updated to 8.1.1). When you attempt to text someone outside of iMessage, the name (with the phone number) is RED and states that "Phone Number X is not registered with iMessage". However I have no problem texting these people with my Apple devices.

I have placed our devices side by side and the cloud and Message settings are identical.

Anyone know what might be causing this? Being able to text non-Apple users now is very convenient.

 

Good question, Coldwaves.

I went back to her iPad to confirm message forwarding and there is not option to do so. I likely already forwarded it but don't remember specifically.

Something that just occurred to me: she had her iPhone 6 stolen a couple of weeks ago and is waiting on her replacement to be delivered. In the meantime, she is using a loaner phone.

Could the fact that she is not (does not) using an iPhone at the moment be causing the forwarding issue?

I'm thinking this may be a "duh" moment ;-)