The money messaging platform emu.me has launched an app in the U.K. that allows users to send and request cash by email. The service can be used for paying merchants as well as for P2P transactions, emu said. Senders and receivers of cash link a bank card to their email to send money directly to and from bank accounts, without the need for secondary holding accounts.

The distinguishing characteristic of the emu app is that it can be used for both sending and requesting money. By comparison, Square Cash, launched recently in the U.S., only allows customers to send money, emu said.

Users select either "Send Money" or "Ask for Money" in the emu Cash app, and add the amount to create the email. They cc [email protected] with the amount, and the email is ready to send.

The emu Cash app is available for iOS and Android. It is free to download and currently free to use, although the emu website said sending money costs £1.00 ($1.60). There is a £800 daily limit on sending cash, but no limit on receiving it.

Emu is the trading name of emu Pay Ltd, which is authorized by the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority under the country's Electronic Money Regulations for issuing electronic money and providing payment services.

Emu Pay also has a European E-Money license from the FCA and said it can process payments in 24 countries. Emu.me will be rolled out globally in 2014, the company said in a news release.

Learn more about money transfer/P2P.