Applications
Microsoft launches new version of CRM online
MUMBAI: Microsoft India today announced the launch of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, the cloud version of the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 release that delivers new levels of productivity to sales, service and marketing organisations.
In order to meet the requirements of the local customers in the country, a Hindi version of the application has also been introduced. The on-premises and partner-hosted versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 will be globally available on 28 February 2011.
Microsoft Dynamics India Group Director Subhomoy Sengupta said, “With cloud computing becoming increasingly popular in the mainstream, Indian businesses are re-evaluating their CRM systems to ensure they are getting the best fit for their business and most value from their IT investment. Microsoft has the expertise to deliver CRM in the cloud and is uniquely positioned to help customers take advantage of modern cloud efficiencies now and in the future.
“Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is focused on delivering the ”Power of Productivity” through familiar, intelligent and connected experiences for people inside and outside an organization. I am confident that this offering will add immense value to businesses across functions like sales, services and marketing by providing simplicity and enabling innovation for customers.”
Pennar Engineered Building Systems executive director PV Rao said, “The manufacturing industry today has evolved from being product centric to being more customer centric. To support our growth, we wanted a solution that is capable of giving intelligent insights to the business.
“We chose Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online over Salesforce.com for the superior experience, familiarity, ease of use and seamless integration with Outlook. With Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online in our system, we will be able reduce costs, enter new markets, improve efficiencies and interact in more meaningful way with customers”.
More than 11,500 customers and 2,000 partners have used Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 as part of the beta programme, including customers that have switched from competing solutions. Based on the new Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 release, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online delivers breakthrough productivity by providing familiar, intelligent and connected experiences to users across the organisation:
Familiar experiences for sales, service and marketing users through a next-generation native Microsoft Outlook client, browser-based and mobile access, RoleTailored design, and advanced user personalization, improving user adoption and giving users easy access to the information they need to be successful.
Intelligent experiences through guided process dialogs, inline business intelligence for performance and goal management, and real-time dashboards, providing the most up-to-date information critical to enabling sales, service and marketing professionals to do their jobs effectively.
Connected experiences through flexible cloud development, Windows Azure interoperability, contextual Microsoft SharePoint capabilities and the new Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace, making it easy for customers and partners to configure and customize Microsoft Dynamics CRM to meet specific business needs.
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.
