WhatsApp will no longer work on millions of devices starting from 1st of February.
WhatsApp said the move was “necessary in order to protect the security of its users.” Smartphones using Android 2.3.7 and older, and iPhone iOS 8 or older, are those affected by the update. Most users won’t be affected by the update, as they can just update their operating system.
To put into perspective who the update will really effect. the iPhone 4 will no longer be able to use the messaging service, as it is only compatible up to iOS 7.
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“WhatsApp clearly had no option but to ensure its service remains secure, however it faces the difficult side-effect that the app is no longer compatible with older smartphones,” said CCS analyst Ben Wood.
“This is likely to disproportionally impact the long-tail of its users, particularly in growth markets where there is a high proportion of older devices.”
Users were first warned about this update nearly 3 years ago, but it still comes as a surprise to some.
“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,” said a spokesperson for the company.
