TBWA\ has scored a prime spot in the battle of the mobile telcos, having wrangled the account for 2degrees from indie agency Origami, before the first punches have even been thrown.

It’s a move that will see the Backslash go head-to-head with Saatchis (Telecom) and Colenso (Vodafone), and usurp Vodafone’s stranglehold on the underdog status.

TBWA\ won the account after a competitive pitch, adding the telco to its stable of key clients and more than making up for the semi-loss of Beiersdorf Nivea earlier this year.

So it’s all fists to the glove for August when our third nationwide mobile phone network will launch and the Backslash will prepare a full brand onslaught. Stay tuned to see how Telecom and Vodafone react to the new player in the ring.

CEO David Walden said it’s an exciting win, “All the more so because we’ll be up against Telecom and Saatchis and Vodafone and Colenso and that’s going to make life really interesting.

“2degrees promises to really disrupt the telecommunications industry and that’s an important part of what the TBWA\ offer is all about too, so it feels like a great fit.”

GI Media holds the media buying and Bullet PR has the public relations honours.

In other news, Mitsubishi is offering a free goat with every new Triton sold before August, in a bid to help rural communities stave off the recession. OK, it's not quite a 1,000 hours project, but still warm and fuzzy. Except, of course, that the idea has been blatantly ripped off from an Ideal Cars promotion, courtesy of Mark Holloway/Holloway Advertising/Holloway Marketing Consultants.

Finally, your Fun Link for today. What to do with your old agency business cards if you get laid off.