Free messaging app WhatsApp has been dropping hints on the coming changes for months and has finally confirmed that these changes will come into effect on the 1st of February 2020. Millions of WhatsApp users around the globe may need to buy a new smartphone to continue using the free messaging app.
From the start of next month, it is expected that a variety of devices will no longer work with WhatsApp, needing them to get an upgrade before they can work with it. This new block means that Apple iPhones running on software older than the iOS 8 will no longer have access to the app and Android users with devices running on software earlier than the 2.3.7 (the Gingerbread) will be blocked off in February.
According to statistics from Google, many mobile users are using older software on their devices and around 7.5 million devices will be in need of upgrades to be able to use WhatsApp in February.
This decision is taken by WhatsApp due to the fact that it is no longer viable for tech firms like Facebook and WhatsApp to support different operating systems. Elaborating on the reason behind the coming shut-out, the tech company said they want to channel more efforts on mobile platforms more commonly in use by large majority of the population, and that the older software does not avail enough room needed for expansion.
So for readers out there with devices that still have these older software, you still have time on your side to upgrade your devices to avoid getting cut off from the most widely used chat app in the world.
Staff Writer
Now it’s time for those with old phones with old software to make an upgrade. I always knew this would happen.
Just imagine WhatsApp stops working on tecno or infinix. Lol, almost everyone would change their phones