Configure iMessages for only certain people?

[Mainer82]

I'd like to use iMessages with my family and certain other people. But if anyone else texts me, I want it to be SMS. I don't want them to know when or if I have read their message.

Is this possible?

 

[SwitchBeach]

I don't think that you can configure iMessage to only work for certain numbers. I"m not 100% sure, but I don't think so.

Note, however, that you can turn Read Receipts off in the Settings app.