WhatsApp to stop working on these phones
WhatsApp’s latest announcement that it is slated to cut support of its service on older iPhones and Android smartphones, is set to affect millions of users worldwide.
From 1 February 2020, WhatsApp will no longer function on older operating systems including Androids older than version 2.3.7, Nokia S40 and iPhones running iOS 7 or older phones.
According to Google figures, 0.3 per cent of Android devices still run this operating system – amounting to around six million smartphones and tablets. Those using these devices will no longer be able to create new accounts but will still be able to continue using WhatsApp until the deadline.
“Because we’ll no longer actively develop for these operating systems, some features might stop functioning at any time,” WhatsApp said in a blog post quoted by Independent.
The Facebook-owned app is used by close to half a billion people around the world but it is unclear how many users will be affected by the recent announcement.
However, WhatsApp announced in December that it will cease support for Windows Phone 8.0 and on the older versions, as well as for the Nokia Symbian S60, Blackberry OS and Blackberry 10.