• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, March 5, 2007

Turner Broadcasting System International has launched its new CNN Mobile service, a mobile news portal developed in partnership with Ericsson.

CNN's first free ad-supported mobile site features breaking news, SMS text alerts, and a searchable 14-day news archive.

It will also include an "In the Field" blog with contributions by international correspondents, and a made-for-mobile hourly video update, "World News Now."

Lexus is the first advertiser on the service, running a campaign for its Hybrid vehicle that will include banner ads as well as pre- and post-roll spots book-ending the two-minute "World News Now" clip.

CNN Mobile will initially roll out in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America and be available on all Internet-enabled mobile phones and handheld devices.

Turner plans to launch new mobile sites for the Cartoon Network and other media properties in 2007.