This will affect mostly BlackBerry and older Nokia phones. Older versions of Google’s operating system, Android, will also be affected.
When WhatsApp was launched seven years ago most of its users had BlackBerry or Nokia phones. Only 25 percent of users had Android phones.
This trend have changed dramatically since with most cellphone users using Android or Apple smart phones these days.
All support for WhatsApp on the following devices will cease by the end of 2016:
BlackBerry, including BlackBerry 10
Nokia S40
Nokia Symbian S60
Cellphones that use Android 2.1 and Android 2.2
Windows Phone 7.1.
Reason being is these above mentioned operating systems can no longer support the new characteristics of the app.
The latest Nokia phones using Android or Microsoft’s latest operating systems won’t be affected, according to Whatsapp. BlackBerry’s new phone, the Priv, which also makes use of Android, also won’t be affected.
WhatsApp advised users of these affected phones to upgrade to a phone that can support the app before the end of December 2016.
Does that mean the app will just disappear from my phone if I have downloaded it already?
My Broadband, South Africa’s premier technological online website says no. They assume it will mean if you already have the app on your phone, you can keep using it, but it won’t be available for you to download in the app store, and it could stop working at any point. You will also not be able to upgrade your version, which could affect functionality.
