WhatsApp will stop working from January 1, 2018 on BlackBerry OS and Windows Phone 8. Here's what to do to arrive prepared
WhatsApp will stop working as of January 1, 2018. This is not the classic hoax that travels daily on the instant messaging application, but a true news and that will affect a good number of users. WhatsApp, in fact, will stop offering support to devices with the operating system BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10 and Windows Phone 8
The staff of the instant messaging application had already announced its intention to block support for smartphones with BlackBerry OS and Windows Phone. The decision stems from WhatsApp's desire to focus its efforts on the operating systems most used by users (Android and iOS) so that it can develop new features as quickly as possible. The end of support does not mean that owners of a smartphone with BlackBerry OS will no longer be able to use WhatsApp, but that very simply they will have a limited version of the application and will no longer receive updates.
What happens from January 1, 2018 to BlackBerry OS smartphones
The end of support for BlackBerry OS and Windows Phone smartphones will limit the use of WhatsApp. No more updates will be released and in case a flaw is discovered, users will be at the mercy of hackers and will not receive any protection. This is not the first time that WhatsApp removes support for an operating system: it had already happened on June 30, 2017 with Nokia phones that used the Symbian S60 operating system.
To solve the problem, users with a smartphone with BlackBerry OS will be forced to buy a new device if they want to continue using WhatsApp with all the new features. Users with a Windows Phone 8 device will be able to upgrade their device to Windows Phone 8.1 and use the application without any kind of limitation (this can be done on all smartphones made by Microsoft).
Which smartphones will no longer be compatible with WhatsApp in the coming years
In the coming months WhatsApp will continue to remove support for other older operating systems. Following the roadmap WhatsApp will no longer work from December 31, 2018 on phones with Symbian S40 and from February 2020 on smartphones with Android 2.3.7 or earlier version. Most likely, other mobile OSes that are now little used will also be added in the coming months. What can users do to comply with the new WhatsApp "directives"? Update their smartphone or buy a new one.