• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, March 5, 2007

CNN has expanded its reach--to viewers and advertisers--with the relaunch of its new CNN Mobile service.

The network's first free ad-supported mobile site offers breaking news, SMS text alerts and a searchable 14-day news archive with more than 2,000 stories. It will also include an "In the Field" blog with contributions by global correspondents and a made-for-mobile hourly video update, "World News Now."

Lexus is the initial advertiser on the service. The luxury automaker is running a campaign for its Hybrid vehicle that includes banner ads and 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 will be available on all Internet-enabled mobile phones and handheld devices. Turner Broadcasting, CNN's parent, plans to launch new mobile sites for the Cartoon Network and other media properties in 2007.

The advertising deal, developed by media agency Zed, will run for the first month of the new service. CNN Mobile first launched in 1999.