VoIP App Tu Go, Coming To O2 This Year

Telefonica has revealed more information about its new VoIP service Tu Go, which lets customers of selected networks read messages, make calls and receive voicemails on a smartphone, tablet or PC, with communications stored in the cloud.

The service will be coming to the UK in the fourth quarter of this year on O2, with calls coming out of customer’s monthly allowances. O2 connect was first announced last year, and is based on technology acquired by the acquisition of JaJah in 2009.

Tu Me, Tu You, Tu Go

Tu Go embeds the VoIP function in the operating system, unlike Telefonica’s previous announced VoIP app Tu Me, aqnd can only be offered through operators.

The UK launch will be followed by other markets next year, but Telefonica says that it will be up to individual networks on how their customers are charged for using the service.

“We haven’t dictated a business model but created the enabling technology,” it said, saying that some might charge for services, including international calls, while others like O2 will use customers’ existing bundles. Users will be able to select if the app uses a Wi-Fi or GSM connection to make calls or texts.

These features can be used directly through the application which will be made available for iOS and Android devices. Telefonica is exploring the possibility of Windows Phone 8 support, but a BlackBerry application has been ruled out.

According to Telefonica, it’s almost impossible to include voice support on the BlackBerry platform, and difficult to provide such functionality on Windows Phone 7. Although Skype might work on the platform, it’s difficult for others and therefore it has decided to focus on Windows Phone 8 instead.

Naturally, Tu Go will be available on Firefox OS, the open source mobile platform being pushed by Telefonica, although it says at this stage, voice doesn’t exist in HTML5.

“In a few years, all operators will offer your communications on any device, but we’re getting there first,” said Telefonica. “We have a really innovative product that no one else has got and we believe it’s a differentiator”

The company also said that its VoIP app Tu Me now had more than 250,000 active users in 111 countries. The Skype rival, which is available on iPhone and Android, was released in May.

What do you know about Tu Go’s bitter rival Skype? Find out with our quiz!