China launches BeiDou-based satellite short messaging service for emergency needs

China has launched a new satellite short messaging service leveraging the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), designed to provide reliable communication during emergencies when ground-based mobile networks are unavailable.

The service was introduced by China Space-Time Information Co., Ltd., the national operator of the BeiDou services, in collaboration with major domestic telecom carriers, the company announced on Thursday.

The service is poised to serve as a critical supplement to terrestrial mobile networks. It is expected to enhance safety and communication reliability for users across scenarios such as hiking in remote mountains, working at sea, and disaster relief and emergency coordination.

It marks a significant step toward bringing satellite communication technology to the public, the company said, adding that it integrates BeiDou's capabilities into daily life, offering tangible technological protection.

The service uses the short-message service built into the BeiDou system, enabling users with compatible smartphones to send and receive text messages directly via BeiDou satellites in areas without cellular coverage.

China's three primary telecom operators -- China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom -- have all integrated the service. Subscribers can activate the service without changing their SIM cards or phone numbers, according to the company.

Currently, nearly 60 smartphone models from leading Chinese brands already support the functionality, it said.

China Space-Time Information specializes in satellite navigation and communications, big data services, artificial intelligence development, and geospatial remote sensing.

China launches BeiDou-based satellite short messaging service for emergency needs

China launches BeiDou-based satellite short messaging service for emergency needs

Soaring oil prices triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East have heightened U.S. inflation pressures, with analysts warning that households face hundreds of dollars in extra costs if crude climbs further.

Data released on Tuesday by the American Automobile Association (AAA) showed that the national average price of regular gasoline in the United States has risen 18.64 percent compared with Feb. 26. The AAA data also indicated that the national average price of diesel on Tuesday was up 22.85 percent from a week earlier.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at global ratings agency Moody's, warned that U.S. consumers are being threatened by a sharp rise in fuel prices. He said that if international oil prices climb by another 10 U.S. dollars per barrel, annual spending for an average U.S. household would increase by about 450 dollars.

Zandi noted that a surge in oil prices would intensify inflationary pressure in the United States, eroding consumers' purchasing power and weighing on consumption, economic growth, and employment.

Tensions sharply escalated across the Middle East on Feb 28 when the United States and Israel launched large-scale joint airstrikes on Iran. The Iranian side has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the region, hitting many countries in the Gulf.

Escalating Middle East tensions drive up energy prices, squeezing US consumers