WhatsApp has started notifying Symbian users that the app will stop working on the platform on December 31. The Facebook-owned messaging app earlier this year had announced that it will drop support for several mobile operating systems from 2017, including Nokia's dated Symbian.
A notification about the end of WhatsApp support for the platform has started popping up to Symbian users worldwide. The message reads, "Unfortunately, you won't be able to use WhatsApp after 31/12/2016 because WhatsApp will no longer support your phone." All About Symbian first reported the end-of-life date for the WhatsApp app.
To recall, WhatsApp back in February had announced the end of support for Symbian alongside BlackBerry. The messaging service had suggested users to upgrade to a newer Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone before the end of 2016 to continue using WhatsApp. The company had emphasised how much the market changed in the years since WhatsApp was launched in 2009. Previously, Android and iOS platforms were running on less than 25 percent of the devices, while BlackBerry and Nokia's operating systems dominated the market with roughly a 70 percent share. WhatsApp's decision to pull the plug on Symbian and BlackBerry however recaps how the platforms have lost popularity.
Apart from BlackBerry and Symbian, WhatsApp announced end of support for Windows Phone 7.1, and Android 2.2 or below.
One of the biggest reason why WhatsApp was ending the support was these operating systems weren't offering the "kind of capabilities," the messaging service needed to expand its app's features in the future.
BlackBerry had soon after said that it was extremely disappointed with WhatsApp's decision to abandon its platform.
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