Whatsapp puts iphones and Windows old-timers beyond reach

WHATSAPP will stop working on older iphones and Windows handsets after the company refused to update its technology.

The Facebook-owned messaging service, one of the world’s most popular messaging apps with 1.5billion users, will pull its support from Windows Phones today, as it no longer develops for the operating system.

The shutdown will affect Nokia Lumia devices, the last to use the Microsoft-made Windows operating system. Devices such as the

Nokia Lumia 650 were released just four years ago and were still being sold in 2017. The move will also affect older iphone devices running IOS 8 from February next year, as well as Android users with software versions 2.3.7 or older.

Earlier this year, Whatsapp warned that users running the app on a Windows Phone may see some features that “might stop functioning at any time”.

The app has not been available to download from the Microsoft store for some users since July 1.

Microsoft discontinued the development of its Windows Phone operating system in 2017, ending its push into smartphones after a botched deal to buy Nokia’s mobile phone business in 2011.

However, between 0.3 per cent and 0.7 per cent of all British smartphone users are still estimated to use Windows the system. There are around 54million smartphone users in the UK according to analyst firm Newzoo.

Whatsapp said: “This was a tough decision for us to make, but the right one in order to give people better ways to keep in touch.”

The move from Whatsapp to withdraw support from the phones comes at a time when people are holding on to their phones for longer. On average, British smartphone users hold onto their device for 28 months.

Figures from research firm Gartner in September highlighted a sharp decline in smartphone sales in 2019, falling 3.2 per cent to 1.74billion sales from 1.81billion in 2018 as people are showing signs of reluctance to upgrade after a standard two-year contract is done.

Owners of smart devices face an increasing number of gadgets becoming obsolete just a few years after they buy them.

Earlier this month, Netflix and BBC iplayer both stopped supporting older Samsung smart TVS due to “technical limitations”.

Whatsapp already pulled the plug on its support for older Windows phones in 2018, as well as the Blackberry operating system.