One billion users. Now, that’s quite a number. For WhatsApp, it’s been an exciting journey since it started out in 2009. Back then, BlackBerry and Nokia ruled the mobile planet and the Apple App Store was in its infancy. Seven years on, things couldn’t be more different.
End of the road
These days, it’s become pretty much a two-way battle between iOS and Android (to be fair there’s still Windows Phone, albeit lingering in single-digit market share). As much as it would great for it to hold on, WhatsApp had to make a tough decision. It’s dropping support for older platforms.
This includes:
- BlackBerry, including BlackBerry 10
- Nokia S40
- Nokia Symbian S60
- Android 2.1 and Android 2.2
- Windows Phone 7.1
BlackBerry 10 OS is a short-lived OS, shipping on a device only two years ago. The ‘saviour’ of BlackBerry so to speak, didn’t quite live up to market expectations. The once darling of the corporate world itself choose Android over its crown jewels, to power its latest PRIV slide smartphone. So perhaps it’s not quite a big surprise.
It’s inevitable to move on to better things, that will offer better user experience and features.
So if you’re still on BlackBerry, an old Nokia or Android, or Windows Phone, it’s time to start looking for a newer smartphone.
You still have time though. Do it by the end of 2016.
Source: Soyacincau, WhatsApp
