Trouble sending text messages to a non-iphone

Question

I've tried several times to send a text to a friend who does not have an iphone and the text is sent back to me with an error message.  The error stages that I am not using a valid 10 digit number.  It is the correct number and I am using the area code.  My friend has sent texts to me and I get them with no problem.  When I try to reply to the message, I get the error message again.  I have other friends who do not have iphones and I have no trouble messaging them.  Any ideas of how to fix this?

Answer 1

Hello there bwatzke,
It sounds like you are unable to message a certain contact on your phone because it gives you an error message. I would use these troubleshooting from the following article named:
iOS: Troubleshooting Messages
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2755
If the issue occurs with a specific contact or contacts, back up or forward important messages and delete your current messaging threads with the contact. Create a new message to the contact and try again.
If the issue occurs with a specific contact or contacts, delete and recreate the contact in the Contacts app. Create a new message to the newly created contact and try again.
If those two steps do not resolve the issue, then use the troubleshooting in the article for the type of messages you are sending whether it be iMessage, MMS, or SMS to help isolate the issue further.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
All the very best,
Sterling