Applications
Samsung targets 70% growth in digital media business
MUMBAI: Samsung India is aiming to achieve a 70 per cent growth in its digital media business this year. The digital media business, which is a new thrust area within the company‘s audio video portfolio, includes products like digital still cameras, digital camcorders, digital audio players (MP3 players) and DVD players. “We plan to grow our digital media business by launching wow, aspirational products like the NV Series as well as by creating new product segments like the 6-in-1 multifunction camcorders within the digital camcorder segment,” said Samsung India deputy managing director R. Zutshi. | ||
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The Samsung ‘NV‘ series in digital still cameras launched today comprises NV10: the world‘s first 10 mega pixel digital still camera (DSC); NV7: slim camera with 7x zoom; and NV3: world‘s first camera with MP3 and stereo speaker in-built functionality. In addition to the NV Series, Samsung has also launched three more products in the DSC category — Digimax i6: the world‘s first camera with portable media player feature in a digicam; Digimax L-85: the world‘s first HDMI camera and Digimax L60: a six mega pixel camera with MPEG4 VGA recording (30fps movie clip). | ||
With the introduction of the new DSC range, Samsung has 11 DSC models priced in the range between Rs 8,990 and Rs 49,990. “Our strategy to grow our DSC business is to help the existing analogue consumers to upgrade to Digital Still Cameras on the strength of our aspirational products and attractive pricing. We will also be enhancing our channel presence for this category by tapping both the existing CE Channel as well as strengthening our presence in the photographic channel,” said Samsung India director sales Pradeep Tognatta. Samsung is targeting a 400 per cent volume growth in its DSC business this year. Samsung India also announced its foray into the fast growing DVD camcorder category by launching its VP-DC 163i and VP-DC 565wi DVD camcorders with optical zoom. MS-11, the ultra compact memory player from Samsung represents a new segment within the existing digital camcorder category with its 6-in-1 functionality – webcam, storage, camcorder, digital still camera, MP3 player and voice recording functions. Samsung India has priced its VP-D363i Digital camcorder model at an introductory price of Rs 17,990. With the introduction of the new digital camcorder range, Samsung has eight digital camcorder models priced in the range between Rs 17,990 to Rs 39,990. Samsung is targeting a 200 per cent growth in its camcorder business this year. The company is also strengthening its Plasma lineup by launching its Q7 series of Plasma TVs in 106 cm (42″) and 127 cm (50″) screen size segments. These HD ready Plasma TVs are differentiated on account of their FilterBright technology for sharper, deeper and brighter display in any lighting condition; Smooth Motion Driver for clear and smooth image even in fast moving scenes and their 13-bit processing capability for an amazing display of 549 billion colours. With the launch of these new Plasma models, Samsung now has a lineup of four Plasma models in 42″ (2 models), 50″, and 63″ screen sizes, priced in the range between Rs 99,000 – Rs 700,000. Samsung India is expecting to grow its audio video business (AV) by 50 per cent in the July – December 2006 period based on its range enhancement in key AV product categories like flat panel TVs and digital media products, enhanced channel presence and awareness creation through Samsung Dream Home Roadshows. Zutshi added, “Our considerably enhanced sales infrastructure coupled with our new product launches should help us successfully optimize our festival sales in the second half of this year.” |
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.
