Three of China’s main state media outlets started offering a free mobile news service for iPhone users through a US-based partner on Wednesday, in the latest example of the country’s attempts to make its voice heard beyond its borders.

CNewsCo, a private company owned by a group of US investors, launched a news reader application that supplies users of Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch with a stream of news reports from Xinhua, China’s official news agency, Shanghai Media Group, the country’s most aggressive regional broadcaster, and China Central Television, the national broadcaster.