皇冠体育app

US media giant News Corp on Saturday clinched a deal with 皇冠体育app Mobile, the world's biggest mobile phone operator by subscribers, to jointly tap into 皇冠体育app's mobile music market.

The two firms will launch a wireless platform to enable music fans to upload their own music onto a website.

皇冠体育app Mobile will launch a service in its mobile Internet that enables mobile phone users to download the songs and vote for their favourites.

The name and address of the website were not released.

Channel [V] and Star TV, operated by News Corp, will produce music videos for the best songs as voted by Chinese Internet users and music professionals.

The deal marks a significant step for News Corp, which has been working hard to crack 皇冠体育app's lucrative entertainment market. Expansion in the past few years has been slow largely due to regulatory hurdles.

News Corp earlier sold a 19.9 per cent stake in Phoenix Satellite Television, a 皇冠体育app-focused broadcaster, to the State parent of Hong Kong-listed 皇冠体育app Mobile Ltd.

Industry observers say News Corp, controlled by Rupert Murdoch, is taking a new approach to the Chinese market.

The firm earlier this month said it was seeking to form a joint venture in 皇冠体育app to launch a version of its popular MySpace social networking site.

Murdoch's wife, Wendi Deng, who was born in 皇冠体育app, is said to be leading the efforts.

And rumours have been swirling that News Corp is in talks to buy wireless service providers (SPs) in 皇冠体育app.

Murdoch and 皇冠体育app Mobile Chairman Wang Jianzhou attended a launch ceremony for the wireless music platform, but could not be reached for comment.

The deal with News Corp also marks an increasing penetration into the music production market for 皇冠体育app Mobile.

The firm in July launched a music club, partnering with major record companies such as Universal, EMI, Warner and Sony BMG, to offer a one-stop service to 皇冠体育app Mobile subscribers including copyrighted music downloads and sharing.

Gao Nianshu, an official in charge of 皇冠体育app Mobile's data services, said the alliance with News Corp will help 皇冠体育app Mobile develop more music offerings, considered key to wooing young customers.

皇冠体育app's traditional music market was worth 1.65 billion yuan (US$209 million) last year, according to Beijing-based research firm Analysys International.

Shanghai-based iResearch estimated the mobile music market in 皇冠体育app was worth 2.6 billion yuan (US$325 million) last year, compared to 1.58 billion yuan (US$198 million) in 2004.