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The World Economic Forum names MobiTV as technology pioneer for the year
MUMBAI: The World Economic Forum has announced 47 Technology Pioneers for 2007. MobiTV, which works in the area of mobile and broadband television and music services, has been selected. |
The Technology Pioneers were nominated by venture capital and technology companies. The final selection from 225 nominees was made by a panel of leading technology experts appointed by the World Economic Forum. Technology Pioneers 2007 are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum to be held in Davos, Switzerland from 24-28 January 2007. MobiTV is responsible for leading the convergence of television and music content across the mobile and personal computing markets. The service has more than one million subscribers and offers TV and digital radio channels from labels, networks and cable providers. MobiTV is available in the US through AT&T, Sprint, Cingular, Alltel. In the UK it is available through 3UK and Orange; in Canada through Bell, Rogers and Telus and in Latin America through América Móvil. Technology Pioneers are companies that have been identified as developing and applying highly transformational and innovative technologies in the areas of energy, biotechnology and health, and information technology. This year’s class of companies has been selected not only because of the cutting-edge work undertaken by these organizations, but also because their work has potential long-term impact on business and society. |
The World Economic Forum MD Peter Torreele says, “The competition to become a Technology Pioneer has been more intense than ever. It is evident that technology and innovation is playing a key role in the shifting power equation at a global level. Driving this shift is the tremendous amount of innovation taking place outside of traditionally hubs. The wide geographic spread of this year’s Technology Pioneers is a testament to this trend. We are pleased to welcome MobiTV to our Community of Technology Pioneers, and look forward to engaging them into the community of the World Economic Forum”. Another firm that was selected is Sling Media. The US consumer electronics company, offers digital lifestyle products. It offers Slingbox, a device that allows consumers to access their living room digital television from any location through Internet connected laptops, desktops, PDAs, and smartphones. The company also offers SlingPlayer Mobile, a software package, which allows Slingbox owners to watch and control their home TV from any network-enabled mobile phone or handheld computer. Measurement firm comScore Networks also features. comScore Networks started in 1999 with the vision to measure, analyze and report actual e-commerce transaction data across all websites. Harnessing its technological innovation and creativity, comScore has evolved far beyond this initial vision to become the leading provider of digital marketing intelligence. To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the development of life-changing technology innovation and have the potential for long-term impact on business and society. In addition, it must demonstrate visionary leadership, show all the signs of being a long-standing market leader – and its technology must be proven. |
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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.
