Facebook-owned WhatsApp is calling it quits on older (should be say “obsolete”) mobile operating systems before the year ends. It is officially ending support for BlackBerry OS (including BlackBerry 10) and Windows Phone 8 on 31 December 2017.
What does this mean for users of these two platforms? The messaging app will continue to work, with a catch. Users will not be able to create new accounts, or re-verify existing accounts on their devices.
WhatsApp says that because it no longer actively develops for these platforms “some features could stop functioning at any time.” As they say, “sh*t just got real.”
In the middle of this year, WhatsApp announced that it would extend support for WhatsApp on BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry OS 7. As it goes, it was a welcome move for users still on the platform, but frankly, it was merely postponing the inevitable. Seeing BlackBerry themselves have moved to Android, it makes sense for users to “upgrade.”
For Nokia S40 users, you’ll still have some space to breathe, until 31 December 2018.
Android versions 2.3.7 and older have official support until 1 February 2020.
WhatsApp recommends users to upgrade to newer OS versions including newer Android versions (OS 4.0+), iOS 7+, or Windows Phone 8.1+.
Source: WhatsApp | Header pic: Crackberry
