Editing Text messaging (section)

=== Emergency services ===
In some countries, text messages can be used to contact emergency services. In the UK, text messages can be used to call emergency services only after registering with the emergency SMS service. This service is primarily aimed at people who, because of disability, are unable to make a voice call. It has recently been promoted as a means for walkers and climbers to call<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcofs.org.uk/news.asp?s=2&id=MCS-N10616&nc= |title=Mountaineering Council of Scotland news 24/11/10 |publisher=Mcofs.org.uk |date=24 November 2010 |access-date=29 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.go4awalk.com/the-bunkhouse/walking-news-and-discussions/walking-news-and-discussions.php?news=710209 |title=goforawalk.com news December 2010 |publisher=Go4awalk.com |access-date=29 March 2012}}</ref> emergency services from areas where a voice call is not possible due to low signal strength.

In the US, there is a move to require both traditional operators and [[Over-the-top content|over-the-top]] messaging providers to support texting to 911.<ref>{{cite news
 | url=http://911colorado.org/more-on-text-messaging/
 | title=911 Services And Text Messaging
 | work=9-1-1Colorado Foundation
 | access-date=10 February 2014 }}
</ref> In Asia, SMS is used for tsunami warnings and in Europe, SMS is used to inform individuals of imminent disasters. Since the location of a handset is known, systems can alert everyone in an area that the events have made impossible to pass through e.g. an avalanche. A similar system, known as [[Emergency Alert Australia|Emergency Alert]], is used in Australia to notify the public of impending disasters through both SMS and landline phone calls. These messages can be sent based on either the location of the phone or the address to which the handset is registered.

In the early 2020s, device manufacturers have begun to integrate [[Satellite phone#Integration into conventional mobile phones|satellite messaging]] connectivity and satellite emergency services into conventional mobile phones for use in remote regions, where there is no reliable terrestrial cellular network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qualcomm's Snapdragon Satellite will let Android phones text off the grid |url=https://www.engadget.com/qualcomm-snapdragon-satellite-messaging-android-211037007.html |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Engadget |date=5 January 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>