Applications
Webaroo launches free group SMS
MUMBAI: Webaro announced the launch of ‘SMS GupShup‘, a free group messaging service in India. SMS GupShup offers a way to create groups of any size and communicate with them. Messages sent by the
Using a single SMS message, users can join any group they choose. They will then automatically receive messages posted to the group as an SMS on their phone. Similarly, users can use SMS messages to create their own groups, invite friends, and post messages to the group. Additionally, users can also run a poll, rating and quiz within their group. Groups and messages are archived online at www.smsgupshup.com, except for private groups. The service is free to users and will be supported by advertising. |
Users can join groups to stay connected with friends, to receive alerts and notifications, to stay updated with news and current events, to receive weather updates or sports scores from their favorite sources. “SMS Gupshup is a fun, new and powerful SMS service for users of any mobile phone. It is an ideal tool for connecting with friends, building new relationships and forming mobile communities. We are seeing rapid user growth, through word of mouth, indicating popularity and usability of the service” said Webaroo co-founder and CTO Beerud Sheth. He added “This helps us further realize Webaroo‘s goal of bringing diverse content, including user generated content, to all mobile devices.” |
| Webaroo is an access to the web on mobile devices. Webaroo‘s products makes web content accessible on portable devices. Founded in 2004, the company has offices in California, Washington, Mumbai and New Delhi. |
Applications
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.
