By year's end WhatsApp will no longer support BlackBerry 10, Android 2.1 and other platforms

posted by Alan F. / Feb 27, 2016, 8:43 PM

By year's end WhatsApp will no longer support BlackBerry 10, Android 2.1 and other platforms

If you use a device powered by any version of BlackBerry, including BlackBerry 10, you can say goodbye to WhatsApp. The popular messaging app is ending its relationship with all BlackBerry operating systems by the end of this year. But wait! There's more. Other platforms such as Nokia S40, Nokia Symbian S60, Android 2.1, Android 2.2 and Windows Phone 7.1 also will no longer be supported by WhatsApp at the end of 2016.

The Facebook owned WhatsApp recently turned seven. At the time the app started, 70% of the smartphones purchased were powered by BlackBerry or Symbian. Android, iOS and Windows Phone, now installed in 99.5% of mobile devices, was in use on only 25% of such products at the time. WhatsApp says that for the next seven years, it wants to concentrate on the platforms that the "the vast majority of people use."

If you employ a handset that runs on one of the affected operating systems and want to remain a WhatsApp user, the messaging app has a one word recommendation for you, "Upgrade!"

"When we started WhatsApp in 2009, people's use of mobile devices looked very different from today. The Apple App Store was only a few months old. About 70 percent of smartphones sold at the time had operating systems offered by BlackBerry and Nokia. Mobile operating systems offered by Google, Apple and Microsoft – which account for 99.5 percent of sales today – were on less than 25 percent of mobile devices sold at the time."-WhatsApp

This is an interesting move by WhatsApp, especially the decision to stop supporting the earlier Android builds. We wouldn't be surprised to see other apps follow WhatsApp and start weeding out older Android platforms.

source: WhatsApp via Crackberry

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116 Comments

1. HugoBarraCyanogenmod

Posts: 1408; Member since: Jul 06, 2014

Because WhatsApp want you to use fb messengers instead

posted on Feb 27, 2016, 9:00 PM 2

2. jojon

Posts: 421; Member since: Feb 11, 2014

..zactly right

posted on Feb 27, 2016, 9:03 PM 0

22. Rafishant

Posts: 389; Member since: Oct 13, 2015

When BlackBerry itself is no longer focusing on its native operating system, well, who can blame WhatsApp for ditching it?

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 1:06 AM 9

24. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

It's not just BlackBerry's OS it's ditching.

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 1:38 AM 1

3. miketer

Posts: 471; Member since: Apr 02, 2015

Nothing much can be done if BlackBerry themselves are sold on Android. Nothing wrong though. That's how things are and that's what they gotta do to survive.

posted on Feb 27, 2016, 9:20 PM 2

4. Demyk

Posts: 1; Member since: Feb 27, 2016

It really doesn't matter to blackberry 10 users as long as they don't mind running the android version of the app.

posted on Feb 27, 2016, 9:39 PM 9

7. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

Agreed. I think people forget (or are simply unaware) that functions BB10 devices can run Android apps.

posted on Feb 27, 2016, 10:19 PM 3

12. Mxyzptlk unregistered

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't mind. There's not a lot to choose from when it comes to apps on BB10.

posted on Feb 27, 2016, 10:48 PM 4

14. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

Spoken like someone who has never used a BB10 device before.

posted on Feb 27, 2016, 10:51 PM 4

21. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

at least he know the truth :-/

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 1:03 AM 0

25. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

So he speaks for BB10 users now, even though he isn't one himself? And it still doesn't make what I said any less true.

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 1:39 AM 2

32. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Who said anything about speaking for BlackBerry users? Get off your high horse. It doesn't make what I said any less true.

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 9:53 AM 0

37. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

So then how can you say they won't mind? Do you know how many BlackBerry users DON'T use whatscrap? Because there are plenty, so get off YOUR high horse. And it still doesn't make what I said any less true. You're ignorant of anything not iOS.

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 12:12 PM 1

39. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Actually, I wasn't talking about Whatsapp. I was talking about Blackberry users using the Android version of apps in that they probably wouldn't mind using the Android version of apps since the Blackberry App Store is pretty limited. You're overreacting as usual.

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 1:05 PM 0

43. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

I know exactly what you're talking about, and talking about "Android versions" includes whatsapp. BlackBerry's app store has all of the top major apps that are most used, and whatever apps they don't have "officially", they have native app developers that have developed them. iGrann and Inst10 are native Instagram apps on the BB10 platform that are not only more feature-rich than Instagram, but have had features like support for multiple accounts long before Instagram decided to implement it. As I said, you're quite ignorant of anything not iOS. You're being defensive (as usual) because I pointed out said ignorance.

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 3:24 PM 1

47. Mxyzptlk unregistered

You're the one who's being ignorant. You don't want to admit that Blackberry has a very limited app selection from its own front. Not every Android app is going to work and it's not always guaranteed to work. It's better to have "official" compatibility. You're ignorant of anything not Blackberry. Your comment above is proof.

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 7:57 PM 0

49. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

I'm being ignorant because I pointed out that BlackBerry 10 devices have access to over 500,000 apps, which is a fact? In what world is that ignorance? Every Android app that's not running GMS works fine on BB10 devices. YOUR comment shows your ignorance of anything not iOS.

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 8:02 PM 1

59. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Again, I don't care about BB10 having access to the Amazon App Store. Again I can get the same access on my Moto X. The only real advantage the Amazon App Store has over the Play Store is the free app specials they run. Apps on the Play Store are updated faster and I'm not tied to Amazon. You're showing your ignorance plain and simple.

posted on Feb 28, 2016, 9:42 PM 0

65. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

And I don't care what you don't care about, or what you you can get access to. All I care about is proving my point, which I have over and over again. It doesn't make a difference if you're "not tied to Amazon", because you're tied to something, that something just happens to be the Play Store. Amazon Apps are updated in a timely fashion. You obviously don't use the Amazon App Store, or you would know this. But I guess ignorance is bliss on your part.

posted on Feb 29, 2016, 3:13 AM 1

76. Mxyzptlk unregistered

You're half right. Usually you're never right. I don't use the Amazon App Store, that much. Most apps I need are on the Play Store and why bother using the Amazon Store when I can just use the Play Store instead? Like I said before, I understand if you want to take whatever you're given but I can use whatever.

posted on Feb 29, 2016, 3:44 PM 0

77. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

I'm ALWAYS right where you're concerned. I can use whatever also. And I do. You're the one that limits yourself here, not me.

posted on Feb 29, 2016, 5:01 PM 0

84. Mxyzptlk unregistered

This is dumb. You're getting mad just because you have to stick with table scraps. Not my fault.

posted on Feb 29, 2016, 9:14 PM 0

89. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

YOU'RE dumb. You're getting mad because there are other things out there that you're just so ignorant about that you think it's "table scraps". Not my fault you're ignorant.

posted on Feb 29, 2016, 9:41 PM 0

94. Mxyzptlk unregistered

I'm not getting mad at anything. You're the one who is shedding the salty tears just because I made the comment about the limited selection of apps on Blackberry. Get over it.

posted on Mar 01, 2016, 7:23 PM 0

100. meanestgenius

Posts: 21006; Member since: May 28, 2014

Of course you're getting mad. That's why you're here complaining and whining like a spoiled brat. As usual. I made a comment disproving your "limited apps" comment. Get over it.