WhatsApp has granted a stay of execution for BlackBerry smartphones by promising to support the platform for six more months.
Last year, the Facebook-owned messenger service said it would no longer update clients for BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40, Nokia Symbian S60, Android 2.1 and 2.2, Windows Phone 7 and the iPhone 3GS and iOS 6.
No reason has been given but when it first announced the plans in 2016, WhatsApp said:
“While these mobile devices have been an important part of our story, they don’t offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand our app’s features in the future.
“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. If you use one of these affected mobile devices, we recommend upgrading to a newer Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone before the end of 2016 to continue using WhatsApp.”
WhatsApp has added the ability to send documents, leading to suggestions that Facebook, which bought the app for £19 billion in 2014, is looking to target businesses. Desktop applications for Mac and PC, which are designed to encourage more frequent use, have added strength to this view.
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