Surprised? Well, If you aren’t, then you haven’t been using WhatsApp frequently and passionately.
For about eight years now, since 2009, WhatsApp Messenger has virtually taken over other short and long messaging platforms like 2go, default SMS, BBM and Badoo in almost every area. Since its existence, it has always been socially acceptable and one of the most used chatting/messaging platforms which naturally supports various devices and operating systems like Android, iOs, Windows, Blackberry, Nokia Series 60 and 40 devices. When WhatsApp started, it was mostly used on Nokia and Blackberry phones because they were kinda predominant. Back then Apple, Windows and Android weren’t prominent and easy to get like Nokia and BB. WhatsApp has been supporting all these device’s platforms; Android, Apple iPhone/iOs, Windows/Lumia, Blackberry and Nokia. Its now 2016 or some months to 2017. Things have changed a lot and the changes wouldn’t favor a large number of mobile/smartphone users at all. In case you don’t know, about 70% of devices under the platforms above wouldn’t be able to use WhatsApp Messenger from 31 December 2016 or let’s say 2017. Think for a minute. Is your current phone or the one you want to buy among the blacklisted devices that won’t run WhatsApp by the end of 2016? If you read on, you will probably know. Since most of these devices have been behaving like ancient of days and don’t want to change, WhatsApp has decided to turn things around in a sad but necessary way.
Still trying to figure out an outstanding reason why Whatsapp is shutting off these devices / platforms.
Yea, I think they are breaking the initial motive behind Whats-app Messenger.
I quote "And yet, through all the progress we've made together over the last seven years, our mission has never changed.
Whats-app began as a simple idea: ensuring that "anyone" could stay in touch with family and friends anywhere on the planet, without costs or gimmicks standing in the way. So even as we celebrate this achievement, our focus remains the same."
To me, their recent action will bring cost as an obstacle to those who want to use Whats-app on some of those old phones. Some people just want things as simple as possible.