From 2016 when WhatsApp turned seven years old, the instant messaging app started ending support for a number of mobile platforms and phasing them out.
When WhatsApp announced ending support for the mobile platforms, it set a timeline to phase them out as well.
WhatsApp said at the time that looking ahead to its next seven years, it wanted to focus efforts more on the mobile platforms the vast majority of people use.
So, by the end of 2016, WhatsApp ended support for WhatsApp Messenger on BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40, Nokia Symbian S60, Android 2.1, Android 2.2, Windows Phone 7 and iPhone 3GS/iOS 6.
After ending support for the mobile platforms, WhatsApp from 2016 to February 1, 2020 started phasing the mobile platforms out.
On June 30, 2017 WhatsApp phased out Nokia Symbian S60 and on December 31, 2017 the Facebook-owned platform phased out BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10.
On December 31, 2018 WhatsApp phased out Nokia S40 and also phased out all Windows Phone operating systems after December 31, 2019.
By July 1, 2019 the app was no longer available in the Microsoft Store.
Android versions 2.3.7 and older were phased out after February 1, 2020 and iPhone iOS 7 and older were also affected on February 1, 2020.
WhatsApp said the mobile platforms phased out do not offer the kind of capabilities needed to expand the app’s features.
Meanwhile, several reports have emerged that WhatsApp will further phase out a number of other mobile platforms not listed in the 2016 announcement that was last updated on June 14, 2019.
While the Facebook-owned firm is yet to confirm the reports, Yahoo, quoting TechRadar, reported smartphones owners with software older than iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3 won’t be able to use WhatsApp beginning from 1st January 2021.
Yahoo explained that this means if you have an iPhone 4 or older, you won’t be able to upgrade to the latest software at all and that it also applies to those who have very old Androids, such as the Samsung Galaxy S2 that was released nearly a decade ago.
While the 2016 announcement that was last updated on June 14, 2019 very well mapped out the mobile platforms to be phased out and the timeline, WhatsApp is yet to confirm the recent reports.
This means it is yet to be confirmed if WhatsApp is phasing out mobile platforms older than iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3 beginning from 1st January 2021 or not.
However, WhatsApp had earlier announced it will be updating its Terms of Service next year, forcing users to agree to new privacy rules in order to keep using the app.