China's largest mobile operator launched cooperation with the
media giant News Corp. by kicking off a wireless music service in
Beijing Saturday.
It is the first move of China Mobile and the New York-based News
Corp. since they established strategic partnership in June, when
the mobile communications company bought a 19.9-percent stake in
Phoenix Satellite Television from Star Group, the Asia-based
television and entertainment subsidiary of News Corp.
The purchase was regarded a sign of China Mobile's ambition to
enter media industry and News Corp.'s strategy to expand its
influence in China by looking to new media.
Through the wireless music platform, China Mobile will provide
cell phone users with downloading service of songs created by
Internet users, while the Star Group will engage in music
production and promotion, said Gao Nianshu, director of China
Mobile's Department of Data Service, at the launching ceremony.
The cooperation combines China Mobile's huge customer base and
Star Group's advantages in content production and promotion, said
Jack Gao, executive officer of Star China.
By September 30, China Mobile's communications service had
covered 287 million cell phone users, with an average of more than
4.29 million added each month from January to June.
The New-York based News Corp. owns major newspapers, magazines
and broadcasters in the United States, the United Kingdom and
Australia, including Fox News Channel, the New York Post,
the Sun and the BSkyB.
(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2006)