How to Add a Text Contact to Your iPad

Third-party apps are available for the iPad that can text a contact via the Internet.

Although the iPad can't make voice calls over cellphone networks as an iPhone can, it still has a Contacts application for storing your address book details. You can add a variety of information to a contact's entry in your iPad application, including a cellphone number that's used for text messaging. You can sync this contact information with iTunes on your computer and with other devices, such as the iPhone or iPod touch.

Instructions

1. Tap the Contacts application icon on the iPad home screen to launch it.

2. Tap the "+" button at the bottom right-hand corner of the left page to add a new contact.

3. Enter the contact's name in the relevant boxes and add any other information such as his postal address, home phone number and email address.

4. Enter his cellphone number in one of the phone number fields, which is used to send and receive text messages to and from the contact.

5. Tap the field label to the left of the cellphone number. A list of alternative labels is displayed. Tap one of the labels, such as "Mobile," to rename the cellphone entry to something more suitable for a text messaging entry.

6. Tap the "Other" label at the bottom of the list to add a custom title for the cellphone number, such as "Text" or "SMS." Tap the "Done" button to save the contact's details when you've finished editing.

Tips & Warnings

• If you sync an iPhone with the same computer through iTunes, your address book is updated on both devices when any edits are made. Any text contacts in the iPhone is automatically be transferred to the iPad, despite the iPad not being able to send text messages directly. You can sync your iPad's Contacts app with online services such as MobileMe and Google and enter a contact's text information from your computer.

References

• Apple: IPad User Guide
• Apple: IPad Contacts