China's largest mobile operator launched cooperation with the media giant News Corporation by kicking off a wireless music service in Beijing last 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 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.

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.

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