At the end of 2016, WhatsApp ended support for Windows Phone 7, iOS 6, and Android 2.1 and 2.2. Around the same time, the Facebook-owned communications service also pushed back its end-of-support dates for several other platforms - BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40 and Nokia Symbian S60 - to June 30, 2017.
Now, WhatsApp has again revised its plans to switch off its service on several operating systems.
WhatsApp will, as previously announced, discontinue availability for Nokia Symbian S60 users from June 30, 2017. However, it has significantly extended its support for those with Nokia S40 devices by 18 months; those users will now be able to continue using the service until December 31, 2018.
BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10 devices have also received an extension; rather than ending support at the end of this month, WhatsApp will keep working on those devices until December 31, 2017.
The end of the year will also bring the end of support for Windows Phone 8.0, but Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile devices will continue to be supported beyond that date.
Android users have the longest support period to look forward to. WhatsApp says that it will continue to support Android 2.3.7 - which was released in September 2011 - until February 1, 2020. There are plenty of users in emerging markets still using ancient versions of Android and who cannot afford to regularly upgrade their devices, and they'll no doubt be relieved to learn that they'll be able to carry on using WhatsApp for almost three more years.
Source: WhatsApp via Android Police
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