Telefonica has begun collaborating with LG, Samsung and Sony to make its services compatible with the current and future smart wearable devices of the three manufacturers. The Spanish operator announced at Mobile World Congress that it also remains open to reaching agreements with other market players, manufacturers, content providers and companies in the fashion industry to ensure the commercial success of wearable devices. Above all, the company is looking to integrate some of its OTT services, such as Tu Go, in smart wearable devices. The Tu Go service, which was recently launched through O2 in the UK and will shortly be rolled out in the rest of Europe and Latin America, offers a virtual extension of the customer’s mobile number for VoIP and messaging purposes and can be used on up to five devices simultaneously. At its MWC stand, Telefonica is showcasing some of the first prototypes of Sony Mobile and LG smart wearables and their compatibility with the Tu Go service.
Telefonica has already started working with Sony Mobile to develop compatibility with the Sony SmartBand SWR1O. According to the company, SmartBand wearers will be able to receive notifications, and control the main call functions of the Tu Go service with a wrist tap, without reaching for their smartphone.
