Telefonica is to close its OTT messaging app TU Me, as it shifts focus to its TU Go integrated comms product.

TU Me was launched in May 2012, allowing smartphone users to communicate with text, pictures and voice using their data allowance or Wi-Fi.

In March this year Telefonica unveiled TU Go, an app which lets users make and receive calls, texts and voicemail from their existing O2 number, via any supported device. Customers can use a single mobile number across any of these internet connected devices, seamlessly.

A Telefonica spokesman told GigaOm that, following positive customer feedback, the company has decided to focus resources on TU Go, “where we believe we have the greater commercial opportunity”.

Support for TU Me will be phased out over the next month and the app will cease to operate on 8 September. All messages, photos and data on the app will be permanently deleted from Telefonica’s servers and the app will longer be available to download.

Third party messaging apps such as WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat and Viber all have millions of users, meaning an operator-led alternative always faced stiff competition.