At the end of 2016, WhatsApp support will no longer be offered for BB10, Symbian 60, Android 2.1 and Windows 7.1 devices.
If you’re running an older operating system, it might be time to reconsider that upgrade; the team behind the world’s second biggest messaging application have announced that WhatsApp support will cease by year end for BB10 OS, Symbian 60, Android 2.1 and 2.2, as well as Windows 7.1 devices.
In a blog post, the team reflected on the WhatsApp’s launch in 2009, where Nokia and BlackBerry had the largest market share in mobile operating systems through Symbian and BB10.
Read: BlackBerry officially leaves BB10 OS behind
The team has decided that as the platform moves into its next seven years, and that by the end of 2016 support will cease for the platforms the app first launched on.
Citing the cessation of support, the team have said that “This was a tough decision for us to make, but the right one in order to give people better ways to keep in touch with friends, family, and loved ones using WhatsApp. If you use one of these affected mobile devices, we recommend upgrading to a newer Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone before the end of 2016 to continue using WhatsApp.”
The announcement could be another nail in the coffin of BB10, as BlackBerry have stated their intent to focus on Android phones in the future, with the hope of producing another BB10 device one day.
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