HONG KONG: Rupert Murdoch's Star Group is looking to make further inroads into China. The broadcaster and Chinese wireless value-added services provider Linktone Consulting have joined forces to develop wireless services for the mainland China market.
 
 
Leveraging on the exclusive and popular content on Channel [V] and Xing Kong, Star unveiled in April a range of Chinese wireless services including downloads, chats, games, contests based on various shows on the two channels. In the two months following the soft launch, about 100,000 viewers have subscribed to the wireless services.

Star China president Jamie Davis said, "Our core strategy has been to develop local, appealing and unique content on Xing Kong and Channel [V]. Today it is this content that is also driving a new dimension in wireless and letting our viewers go beyond watching their favorite content on TV, to enjoying it and interacting with it via SMS and MMS".

Linktone CEO Raymond Yang has been quoted in an official release saying, "We are very delighted with this achievement, and we attribute this to Stars compelling content and influence. Star is Asias leading multi-platform content and service provider whereas Linktone covers 200,000,000 SMS users in China. Our cooperation is a successful model for others to follow".

The Shanghai headquartered Linktone claims to be the leading pure wireless provider of value-added consumer services to mobile users in China. Linktone has stated that it works in close partnership with China Mobile and China Unicom two of the largest mobile operators in the world with a combined subscriber base of over 225 million mobile phone users. Linktone claims to be uniquely positioned as a consumer wireless specialist focused on entertainment and games