WhatsApp, recently marked its seventh anniversary of their launch while using the opportunity to look back at how far they’ve come, they also used the opportunity to announce the end of support for WhatsApp Messenger on several mobile platforms.
The company plans to focus their efforts on the mobile platforms people actually use. So, by the end of 2016, Whatsapp will be ending support for its Messenger mobile platforms like:
- BlackBerry, including BlackBerry 10
- Nokia S40
- Nokia Symbian S60
- Android 2.1 and Android 2.2
- Windows Phone 7.1
The most surprising news is the company’s plan on ending support for all BlackBerry operating system, including the newest version, Blackberry 10. WhatsApp noted that when they launched in 2009, around 70 percent of smartphones sold shipped with either BlackBerry or Nokia operating systems but things are different now since operating systems from Google, Apple and Microsoft account for 99.5% of units sold.
WhatsApp says support will come to a close before the end of 2016, while recommending its users to get newer phones so as to continue using its service. This move will enable the WhatsApp developers focus on mobile platforms that the majority of their customers are using.
