O2 TU Go lets you text and call on just an Internet connection

I hate replying to texts on my phone's tiny screen when I'm sat in front of a perfectly good real keyboard. Wouldn't it be easier if we could get everything pushed to our PCs? O2 thinks so -- its new TU Go app, out today, allows you to access all your calls and texts on any of your devices. All you need is a working Internet connection.

There are a few catches though. To look at your messages, you have to use either an iPhone, iPad, Android device or a Windows PC with Windows 7 or higher. Then you'll have to make sure you're an O2 pay-monthly customer -- sorry, pay as you go folks, O2 is working on bringing it to you in the future. If you have all that, you're set, all you need to do now is download the app.

You don't have to use a different number or some sort of username, as with other similar services. You use your O2 number, and best of all, the person you text or call from the app will receive it just as if you'd sent it from your phone. They don't need the app installed, nor do they have to be an O2 customer.

Be warned though, if you're hoping that all these texts and calls will be free, that's not the case. For every text message and every call you make, O2 will deplete it from your balance, exactly as it would on your phone.

TU Go is limited to only five devices per person, but all calls and text messages received will be synced across every single one of them -- so you have no excuse to ever miss a call again.

I can think of a few scenarios where this type of service will be really handy -- such as on the Tube in London (although unless you're a Virgin Media customer as well, chances are you'll have to pay to access the Wi-Fi), or when you're abroad and need to screen your calls, or if you live somewhere with poor mobile signal, or when your phone battery dies but you still need to take that all-important call.

The app also offers a few other features, giving you access to your phone's address book and a history of all conversations and call history synced across all devices.

This isn't the first time you've been able to send text messages from a PC -- Nokia used to offer the service via the Ovi Suite on its Symbian devices. Nevertheless, it's a welcome example of a UK network offering something different from its rivals -- for years, O2 was the only network to offer visual voicemail on the iPhone.

If you want to get in on the TU Go action, head over to O2's website and download the app now.

Have you finally had your prayers answered? Is this enough to get you to switch to O2? Or is there some other issue that keeps you away? Let me know in the comments or hit us up on Facebook.