WhatsApp to stop working on some devices from January 1

WhatsApp will stop working on some phone operating systems after December 31, 2017. The popular messaging app made the announcement earlier in the year and explained that it is looking ahead to the iOS and Android platforms, so this is just a reminder.

"As we look ahead to our next seven years, we want to focus our efforts on the mobile platforms the vast majority of people use," the company said.

Any BlackBerry device running BlackBerry OS or BlackBerry 10 will no longer be able to use the messaging app in 2018.

BlackBerry has shifted to Android this year, but older handsets still use its own in-house software.


Additionally, any phone using Microsoft's Windows 8.0 (or older) OS will not be supported.

Even Microsoft has admitted defeat when it comes to its mobile OS, so the lack of WhatsApp support shouldn't come as a surprise.

Even though it has over a billion users, many of whom have older phones, changes in technology mean it has to phase out compatibility to keep security up to date.

"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."