A step for mobile news,but is it forward?

In Europe, CNN is offering a free wireless news push, sponsored by Xerox. This is important because it's an early mainstream indicator of demand for wireless news, but even more so because it's breaking the early-adopter mode of paid wireless content:

There will be those in the mobile content world who will find this type of deal a little disturbing. They are currently very pleased that consumers appear to associate mobile content with paying - in stark contrast to Internet based content. If the consumer starts being offered quality content for no money, they might get used to it.

Expect more deals like this from media owners, as Kevin Razvi, head of CNN International ad sales says, “Our expanding portfolio of wireless businesses exposes advertisers directly to a broad consumer base through a highly relevant service for an increasingly mobile and technically-savvy target audience.”