Applications
O2 launches two new Xda devices in India
MUMBAI: O2 has announced the launch of its latest O2 Asia Pacific CEO Mark Billington is quoted in the official release, “It is important to always focus on customer needs, which is why O2 continually strives to design and develop devices that offer compelling solutions combined with sexy silhouettes. We are always on the lookout for gaps in the market and how we can fill those gaps.” The Xda Atom Exec has been targeted at solutions-driven executives who need a “true mobile office” that pushes the standards of design, technology and usability. Packed under its matte “gun metal”-coloured casing are core functions of the Xda Atom, with upgraded software and enhancements to features and overall performance. Besides its compact size and sleek design, the Xda Atom Exec is equipped with a host of productivity and connectivity features – including Wireless LAN, Bluetooth? and a sleek Infrared keyboard – it‘s a mobile office that doesn‘t look like an office. |
Operating on the Microsoft Windows MobileÔ 5.0 platform with Messaging and Security Feature Pack, the Xda Atom Exec gives the convenience of direct push technology with real-time access to corporate email anywhere. It has an Intel 520MHz processor and 192MB of on-board memory. Xda Atom Exec comes with many O2-exclusive applications like O2 AutoInstall, O2 Plus, O2 MediaPlus, O2 PhonePlus and O2 SMS Plus to help manage communication and entertainment needs and has an in-built FM radio and a 2.0 mega pixel camera with flash. The Xda Stealth is the first device created by O2 in a new product category they have termed “hybrid”. Billington envisions this will be the first in a long line of devices from O2 that merge the best capabilities and sensibilities of different mobile platforms to better engage customers whose needs are not met by standalone PDA-phones, Smartphones or mobile phones. One can access MSN Messenger, SMS and email capabilities by using the slide-out 12-key alphanumeric keypad with one hand or by tapping the 2.4-inch QVGA TFT-LCD touchscreen if you prefer. An intuitive eZiText function of touchscreen with a virtual alphanumeric keypad for texters and customers who want the convenience of a full-fledged PDA but do not want to lose the way they currently use their phones. The Xda Stealth is powered by an Intel Xscale PXA 272 Processor at 416MHz and comes with 192MB Flash ROM of onboard memory. It operates on the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform with messaging and security feature pack, and comes with the latest editions of Microsoft Office programmes for Windows Mobile (including Pocket Outlook, Word Mobile, Excel Mobile and PowerPoint Viewer) and ActiveSync. Connectivity options include Wireless LAN 802.11b+g and Bluetooth. |
The Xda Atom Exec is retailing at Rs 41,990 (MRP), while the Xda Stealth will retail at Rs 32,990 (MRP), starting third week of December through Brightpoint India outlets in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore,Ahmedabad, Pune & Chandigarh. Prices include GST (octroi is extra as applicable) and a one-year local warranty. |
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.
