Spirit lands £4m WAP portal task

Spirit Advertising is understood to have won the £4m creative account for iTouch, the new media subsidiary of Independent News & Media.

The agency is believed to have picked up the business after a pitch against IMP. StarcomMotive recently won the media account.

iTouch, which was developed by the group’s South African arm, is bidding to create a portal which will allow people to conduct business on the move.

The service, known as m-commerce, will supply services such as news and sport information, and stock market updates.

iTouch has operations in the UK, South Africa, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, with business partners including Vodafone Airtouch.

Spirit is understood to be creating a campaign to back the launch of the iTouch WAP portal. The advertising strategy has yet to be finalised.

Independent group executive chairman Tony O’Reilly aims to float iTouch on the London stock exchange later this month. O’Reilly, who first bought a stake in iTouch two years ago, is now believed to have a 71 per cent stake in the business.

Spirit’s existing accounts include Blue Nun, Fred Perry and project work for Honda Europe.