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BenQ launches E61 mobile phone in India
MUMBAI: Digital network services player BenQ has launched the E61 mobile phone in the Indian market. It comes equipped with an SD Card, a hands free with dedicated MP3 controller keys placed on top of the phone. The model has a duo-tone color combos that give you a wider choice to mix ‘n match with the user‘s wardrobe. An official release states that its sleek ID design was awarded the coveted iF Design Award at CeBIT 2006. It has a VGA digital camera with 2X/4X digital zoom. One can set pictures as image caller-IDs for contacts. For music lovers, all the MP3 controller keys on the E61 are on the top of the phone, giving them the freedom to browse your play list, choose songs, play, and rewind and adjust volume when they‘re on the move. Incoming calls can be accepted with ease, as the MP3 player automatically pauses until you hang up. The 6 equalizers including Flat, Bass, Pop, Rock, Jazz and Classic, let the user set their style and it also has a lyrics display feature that can be activated. The E61 also provides extendable memory through its mini SDTM card slot which allows continuous downloads. The model is priced at Rs 5300.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
