Published: 04 Sep 2021, 08:00 pm
WhatsApp logo || Photo: Collected
WhatsApp is set to remove support for a number of old smartphone
models from the first of November, which could prevent millions of people from
accessing messages, photos, and videos from their loved ones.
It's bad news for anyone who has taken care of an old phone for
years, rather than buying the latest model every six months.
From November 1, 43 smartphone models - both Android and iOS -
will lose the ability to send messages and pictures, or make video calls, using
the encrypted messaging service. Smartphone models with Android 4.0.4 or
earlier installed will become incompatible with WhatsApp, as well as iPhones
with iOS 9 or earlier installed.
It means the following phone models will lose access to the app:
WhatsApp has added tons of new features this year - such as disappearing
messages, joinable group calls, and stickers. It claims it is phasing out
support for these older phones to ensure the app still runs securely.
The messaging app has lost a lot of users over the last year due
to ongoing privacy concerns around its new terms of service. WhatsApp has
traditionally marketed itself on offering secure, encrypted messaging, but
announced wildly unpopular changes to the way it handles user data.
These changes would have seen user data handed to private companies to aid in marketing. WhatsApp U-turned drastically on the plans following a major backlash that has seen competitors Telegram surpass one billion downloads.