WhatsApp will no longer work on BlackBerry and Nokia platforms

(TIMES OF INDIA)Here'ssomebadnewsforBlackBerryusers,globalmessagingserviceWhatsAppisendingsupportforBlackBerrydevicesbytheendthisyear.TheFacebook-ownedcompanyannouncedthisinablogpost.

AlsotogettheaxewillbemobilephonesrunningonNokiaS40,NokiaSymbianS60,Android2.1and2.2,andWindowsPhone7.1operatingsystems.

"Whilethesemobiledeviceshavebeenanimportantpartofourstory,theydon'tofferthekindofcapabilitiesweneedtoexpandourapp'sfeaturesinthefuture,"saidthecompanyinthepost.

WhatsApphasaskeduserstoupgradetoanewdeviceinordertocontinuetouseitsmessagingservice."Thiswasatoughdecisionforustomake,buttherightoneinordertogivepeoplebetterwaystokeepintouchwithfriends,family,andlovedonesusingWhatsApp.Ifyouuseoneoftheseaffectedmobiledevices,werecommendupgradingtoanewerAndroid,iPhone,orWindowsPhonebeforetheendof2016tocontinueusingWhatsApp,"saysthecompanyintheblogpost.

Themessagingplatform,withoveronebillionusers,alsorecentlycelebratedits7thbirthday.Thecompanyhadannouncedjoiningthe1-billionusersclubinearlyFebruarythisyear.

"Asoftoday,onebillionpeopleareusingWhatsApp.That'snearlyoneinsevenpeopleonEarthwhouseWhatsAppeachmonthtostayintouchwiththeirlovedones,theirfriendsandtheirfamily,"WhatsApphadsaidinablogpost.

InFebruary2014,WhatsAppwasacquiredbysocialnetworkingsiteFacebook,itsbiggestbuyouttilldate,forawhoppingUSD19billion.InapostonFacebook,WhatsAppco-founderJanKoumsaid42billionmessagesweresent,1.6billionphotosand250millionvideossharedeverydayontheplatform.

Previously,WhatsApphadsaiditsservicehasseenstronguptake,especiallyacrossdevelopingnationssuchasBrazil,IndiaandRussia.