Millions of smartphone users will be unable to use WhatsApp from this weekend as the messaging service drops support for handsets with older operating systems.
The app, which is owned by Facebook and boasts more than 1.5 billion users, is set to withdraw its support from iPhones and Android phones with outdated software.iPhone users running an operating system with iOS 8 or older will be affected by the cut-off. Users of Apple's iPhone 4 will be shut out, too, as the phones cannot update to new software.
Users of the iPhone 5 and newer models will retain access.Android phones will also be affected, as handsets using versions of Google's operating system released in 2010 or before will no longer receive updates. The operating system, known as Gingerbread 2.3.7, was used for phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S2 and the HTC Desire HD.Millions of devices globally will be hit. In the UK, the change is expected to affect tens of thousands of smartphone users.
WhatsApp claims the move, which comes into effect today, is necessary to ensure the safety of users against hackers who might try to exploit loopholes in the older software to steal personal details. The US company advises users to update to the newest version of the app in order to stay safe while messaging.
