Telefonica Tries Its Hand At Free Calls, Texts With TU Me, Wants To Take The Skype Road To Make Money

Telefonica has been working hard to make sure it remains a relevant force in mobile as big companies like Apple and smaller app developers like Twilio all swoop in to eat the carriers' proverbial lunch -- offering mobile services to consumers and "owning" that customer relationship: that's seen the company make strategic investments in mobile payments operations like Boku, establish accelerator programs and generally look to remain on the cutting edge of whatever the mobile world will bring us next. The latest in that trend is the launch of a new app from Telefonica, TU Me, which will see the carrier taking a big step away from its traditional paid business model to offer users texts, voice calls, messages, and location and photo sharing -- all free of charge (excepting WiFi or data plan usage, of course). With the app available worldwide from today in Apple's App Store, the idea is to get as many people as possible using it, and then monetize it along the lines of how Skype has done -- through the rollout of eventual value-added services. That could mean enhanced communications, but Telefonica tells me that it will likely also mean adding mobile advertising and other ways of generating revenue.

rashad evans jon jones chuck colson death meteor showers 2012 ufc 145 jones vs evans bobby valentine