Update: Last February, WhatsApp decided to end the support for older platforms, which includes devices running on Android v2, Android v2.2, Devices running iOS v6, Windows 7 Phone, and iPhone 3GS.
The company had stated through their blog;
“So, by the end of 2016, we will be ending support for WhatsApp Messenger on some mobile platforms. 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.”
The initial blog post was updated, later on, to confirm that BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40 and Nokia Symbian S60 will all get extended support till 30th June, 2017.
The devices that will be supported untile 30 June 2017 are:
- Blackberry OS and Blackberry 10
- Nokia S40
- Nokia Symbian S60
OS & iOS Version
To check the version of your phone, simply follow the following steps:
Android:
- Go to your menu
- Select “System Settings.”
- Scroll down towards the bottom of the menu.
- Select the “About phone” option.
- Check the number under “Android version” The three numbers listed there indicate your phone’s version.
- If the three number start with 2.1 or 2.2 your device will stop running WhatsApp from 1 January 2017.
iPhone
- Go to the home screen of your iOS device and click on Settings.
- Click on General.
- Click on About.
- Scroll down to version
- Check the version number, the numbers listed indicate your iPhone version
- If the numbers start with 6 or below, your device will stop working on 1 January 2017.
Windows
If you have a Nokia running Windows Operating system:
- Swipe down (from top of screen) to open notification panel
- Select All settings on the top right corner
- Scroll down to About
- Check the Software version
- If the Software Version say Windows 7 then it will no longer be supported from 1 January 2017
BlackBerry
All devices running Blackberry OS and Blackberry 10. will not be supported from 30 June 2017.
To check your Blackberry OS version:
- Go to System Settings
- Select About
- Scroll down to Category
- Select General
- View Software Release
If you are running any BlackBerry OS release from 10 and below your device will no longer be supported from 30 June 2017.
Symbian
Here is the entire list of cell phones no longer supported:
Nokia
- Nokia Asha 201
- Nokia Asha 205 Chat Edition
- Nokia Asha 206
- Nokia Asha 208
- Nokia Asha 210
- Nokia Asha 300
- Nokia Asha 301
- Nokia Asha 302
- Nokia Asha 303
- Nokia Asha 305
- Nokia Asha 306
- Nokia Asha 308
- Nokia Asha 309
- Nokia Asha 310
- Nokia Asha 311
- Nokia Asha 515
- Nokia Asha 500
- Nokia Asha 501
- Nokia Asha 502
- Nokia Asha 503
- Nokia Asha 230
- Nokia C3-00
- Nokia C3-01
- Nokia X2-01
- Nokia X3-02
- Nokia X2-00
- Nokia X7
- Nokia E6
- Nokia N8
- Nokia C6
- Nokia C7
- Nokia E7
- Nokia 500
- Nokia 600
- Nokia 603
- Nokia 700
- Nokia 701
- Nokia 808
- Nokia 5800
- Nokia 5530
- Nokia 5230
- Nokia 5233
- Nokia 5235
- Nokia N97
- Nokia N97 mini
- Nokia X6
- Nokia X5-01
- Nokia C6
- Nokia C5-03
- Nokia 5700
- Nokia 6110
- Nokia 6120
- Nokia 6121
- Nokia 6124
- Nokia 6700
- Nokia 6290
- Nokia E51
- Nokia E63
- Nokia E66
- Nokia E71
- Nokia E90 Communicator
- Nokia N76
- Nokia N81
- Nokia N81 8GB
- Nokia N82
- Nokia N95
- Nokia N95 8GB
- Nokia 5320
- Nokia 5630
- Nokia 5730
- Nokia 6210
- Nokia 6220
- Nokia 6650 fold
- Nokia 6710 Navigator
- Nokia 6720
- Nokia 6730
- Nokia 6760 Slide
- Nokia 6790 Surge
- Nokia C5
- Nokia E52
- Nokia E55
- Nokia E72
- Nokia E73
- Nokia E75
- Nokia E5
- Nokia N78
- Nokia N79
- Nokia N85
- Nokia Lumia 520
- Nokia N86 8MP
- Nokia N96
Sony Ericsson
- Sony Ericsson Satio
- Sony Ericsson Vivaz
- Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro
Samsung
- Samsung i8910 Omnia HD
- Samsung GT-i8510
- Samsung GT-I7110
- Samsung SGH-L870
- Samsung SGH-G810
- Samsung SGH-iNNN
BlackBerry
- BlackBerry 8520
Huawei
- Huawei Y220
WhatsApp has finally made a tough decision for its users; WhatsApp would no more support older phones, including BlackBerry, Nokia and older Android version handsets by the end of 2017, as they withhold back app’s growth.
It has been 7 years for WhatsApp and it showcases 1 billion active users. According to the reports published on WhatsApp blog post, WhatsApp will drop support for BlackBerry 10 OS, along with all other BlackBerry operating systems, Nokia Symbian S40 and S60 versions, Android 2.1 Eclair, Android 2.2 Froyo and Windows 7.1 operating systems.
While revealing the reason for dropping support, WhatsApp said; “While these mobile devices have been an important part of our story, they don’t offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand our app’s features in the future.”
When they started WhatsApp back in 2009,the usage of mobile devices was very different from today. The Apple App Store was just a few months old. Most of the smartphones sold at that time functioned on operating systems offered by BlackBerry and Nokia.
However, 99.5 percent of sales today comprise of cellphones with operating systems offered by Google, Apple and Microsoft; this was less than 25 percent back in 2009.
“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 blog post added.
BlackBerry, on the other hand, revealed they have sold almost 7 million phones in 2014 alone and with WhatsApp dropping its support from their phones will cost them millions of customers as WhatsApp is the most widely used instant messaging app.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates.
