As far as delivery confirmations go, different options can be turned on under settings. Otherwise, iMessage is an instant messaging service designed to compete with BlackBerry Messenger. It is not just a SMS based text messaging system. Comparing a conventional texting system to messaging system is really comparing apples to oranges. There are a few service based apps like TextPlus and Textme but I have never had any interest in being that connected to people so I have never checked them out....