Set up Messages on your iPad

We continue with our route through the functions of iOS 6. We have already seen how to set restrictions, and the "Do not disturb" function. Today we will see how configure the old iMessage, now called simply «Messages». One of the stars of the launch of iOS 5 that has been having improvements throughout this year, finally becoming a reliable system, and with configuration options that make it very practical, especially if you have more than one device of Manzana.

The operation is like that of any instant messaging service, such as WhatsApp, but with the peculiarity that it only works between Apple devices, which is a disadvantage and also a virtue, since you can use any device to send them, a possibility that does not offer WhatsApp. Like this I can send a message to a friend's iPhone from my Mac, or from my iPad, and later follow the conversation from my iPhone, because all my devices will receive the messages, as long as I have them properly configured, and that is what we are going to discuss in this article.

In Settings> Messages we have the configuration options. The first thing is to activate the service, here we will continue to see the old name, iMessage. Once the service is activated, we will know that we use iMessage because the send button will appear blue, while if the recipient does not have a compatible device or does not have it activated, a green button will appear indicating that an SMS will be used, something that does not it is possible from the iPad, only from the iPhone. We can also mark the option that whoever sends us a message can know if we have read it, and the most important option, from where we send and receive messages.

By clicking on this option we will access the key screen for the service to work correctly. There are two different sections:

• He can be reached by iMessage at: here will be the addresses that will receive messages on this device. On our iPad we can configure our phone number (and others) and various email addresses. Any message sent to the accounts that we have selected will be received on our iPad. If it is sent to an address that we do not have marked, we will not receive it on our iPad. In all our devices we do not have to have the same options marked, of course, according to your preferences you will have to choose what brands and what not. For example, if you don't want messages sent to your iPhone number to reach your iPad, don't dial it.
• Start new conversations from: It will be the identifier with which you will send the messages from your iPad. You can select the number of your iPhone or any other account, as you wish.

Thus, if we configure our iPhone, Mac and iPad exactly the same, all messages will reach all devices, and whoever receives them will not know from which device they are sent. If we want to differentiate devices, we will have to mark different options. And an important fact that cannot be overlooked: The emails and phones you use will have to be associated with your Apple account, or at least not associated with any other account, if not, you will fail to add it. Once you add it, if it was not associated with any account, it will be associated with yours and cannot be used with any other iMessages from another Apple account.

More information - Activate restrictions on your iPad, The "Do Not Disturb" feature in iOS 6