WhatsApp is planning to end support for a wide range of smart and feature phones before the end of December 31. The Facebook-owned mobile messaging platform will end support for those smartphones running Android 2.1, Android 2.2, Windows Phone 7, iPhone 3GS. Moreover, all iPhones running iOS 6 will not be compatible with the mobile messaging app.
The end result of the decision to end support is that you will not be able to work with WhatsApp if you have smartphones with any of the above-mentioned platforms. The main reason for ending support is due to the fact that the smartphones with older Android and iOS platforms don’t provide any capability for expansion.
WhatsApp decision will impact 0.1% phones
The impact from the termination of WhatsApp for older phones will be very minimal since there is around 0.1 percent of phones running Android Froyo. This data is as per the statistics revealed on Google’s own dashboard as of November 2016. Hence, if you have Android Ice-cream sandwich or Jelly Bean powered handset, you need not have to worry.
BlackBerry and Nokia models excluded from the list
Based on the latest information, there are 8 percent handsets, which are still running on the previous versions of iOS. This includes iOS 9 and below. However, if your iPhone is running iOS 6, then you will not be eligible to avail any support from WhatsApp.
Along with older Android and iOS platforms, WhatsApp will end support for Windows 7 Mobile. However, WhatsApp has given a breather for users with BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40, Symbian S60 and BBOS smartphones up to the end of June 2017.
The company has added video calling feature and these platforms are not capable of running it properly. Going forward, you can expect new features and older Android platforms will not be compatible with the functions.
Previously in February, WhatsApp had disclosed its intention to end support for older Android platforms by the end of 2016. However, the company said that it will extend support for BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40 and Nokia Symbian S60 till the end of June 2017.
